Paco

Entrevue

Paco
(Pascal Vaillancourt)

On November 4th 1974, Paco expressed himself for the first time with cries of excitement and fear. Since then, his expression has taken many shapes: from his words to his chisel.

His life had something unexpected awaiting him. After a long and feisty struggle with doubt - this monster that was feeding off of his fears - Paco took a brush and some acrylic paint to reveal himself. Since then, Paco speaks in colors. Abstract and stencils are his main interests.

Paco sees himself reflected in his creations: black and white, this eternal conflict of the shadows and the light. He exposes himself, naked and vulnerable, to the eyes of others. His vulnerability is his strength.

Paco grew up in Haiti, in the Caribbean, surrounded with water and vivacious colors. All of this has had a great influence on his art. He is also involved in sculpting, casting and woodworking, such as furniture and interior design.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I spent the first part of my life in the construction industry as a carpenter/contractor. At 37 years old, I was heading to a wheelchair if I did not change. Working 60-80 hours a week, I was literally killing myself. So in 2011, I stopped everything and focused on my health. I had to shed all unneeded material things and live a simpler life. It was a second birth. I moved to a small town away from the big city and closer to nature. I started to grow as a man, a father and an artist.

I always enjoyed drawing and designing furniture and inventing various gadgets, so I started a small wood shop. My Pacostool design won the Eurasia 2018 award. From there, I had opportunities to exhibit my work, and decided to paint professionally. I started to experiment with spray paint and stencils, and never stopped! I increasingly received more offers to exhibit my work. A local gallery offered me walls to show my art and today, I have some paintings in Paris, Saint Louis and Italy.”

What inspires you the most?

“Most of my inspiration comes from black and white photography, The light reveals all in my painting. The white is the light and it gives birth to all the curves and details I want to reveal.

I have worked with a few local photographers to take pictures for me, then I paint them. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with various artists, from dancers, models and photographers. I am grateful for the internet, because now the whole world is open.

I really love the dance of the black and white. Most of my work is black and white, and once in a while, I'll have the urge to add some colour.”

“The union of the light and the darkness join to create one form no more duality! My paintings reveal that it takes both light and darkness to create what we are, or who we are. We must embrace our light and darkness to feel and be complete, just as the Divine intended it.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I have a series that was inspired to me in a vision I had. I called it the Divine series. It’s an ongoing series of paintings representing the Divine in various forms. I believe all forms are the Divine expressing itself through this physical experience.

The message of my art is about the duality we seem to exist in, I use the light and the dark, or the black and white, to represent the duality. Those two come together on my canvas to create a monochrome piece when united.”

How would you describe your work?

“I would describe my work as my evolution. It is a materialization of my journey on this plane of existence. My journey includes all personal aspects: self, behavior, social, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

I see my art changing with me, or is it me witnessing my changes through my art? Life is full of paradoxes that I've learned to accept, and not try to resolve them.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I really enjoy the black and white work of Stravros Damos. I feel the aliveness of the various people he draws, the simplicity of the drawings, but full of life.

I’ve also learned so much from Futura2000, a legend in the graffiti world, and a man that is so simple and authentic. I would love to meet him in person.”

“I invite those who see my art to meditate on it, so that it reveals its various meanings on many levels. My art moves when you stare at it in silence, it communicates more than just emotions when you take the time to sit and listen.”
What is your creative process like?

“When a picture inspires me to paint it, I'll stare at it or meditate on it and find out what it is trying to express. I then decide how I'll make the light stand out. After that, I get my stencils ready, usually 3-5 for each painting I create. Once the stencils are ready, I can then start to spray-paint my canvas. I always start by writing a few words on the canvas in black. I will eventually paint over it in black, but I never cover the whole canvas in black. Next, I add the light, or the white, to make the image appear. I take time during the various steps, to just sit with the piece and observe what is coming to life. I’m always amazed to see what my hands can do once I get into the flow of each piece.

I use matte varnish, and will add some details with glossy varnish as a way of adding more contrast. In the end, everything comes together to create an image that was inspired by the Divine.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“My role as an artist is to express my truth, to share my perspective without fear of judgment and condemnation. The message will evolve as society evolves. The mediums and ways of expressing that message will, or can, evolve with technology. Being an inventor, I am always looking for ways to improve or simplify. So my art is a way for me to get my message across on many levels, all at once.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“During the Eurasian Prize 2018 exhibition, I won a bronze award for the Pacostool design.

My art is currently showing in the Arte Cavallo Gallery in Montreal.”