(By Louise Cook-Edwards )
French graphic artist and designer, Arnaud Laly, has made quite a splash in Sotogrande with his vibrant, colourful artworks. Following a recent exhibition at La Reserva Club, and a fascinating workshop with the public, Laly has delighted Sotogrande residents with the signature style of his powerful paintings and his desire to share his passion for creativity.
Laly’s oeuvre is the synthesis of both the formal training, and the intense experimentation of the young, French artist with colour, form and design, which has resulted in the impactful, graphic works that make a clear nod to artistic trends such as Cubism, De Stijl and Art Deco.
Laly studied Applied Arts in Rennes, specialising in graphic design before studying plastic art and global design to expand his vision. After settling in Paris, he became an Artistic director in a large agency.
Bringing the breadth of his experience to his art, Laly’s bold, statement pieces embody the power he has harnessed in his use of graphic shapes and bright, contrasting colours. His trifold approach incorporates clean lines, flat colour and dynamic patterns. Employing the rigour of design, Laly often represents deconstructed faces in a contemporary or abstract manner.
Frustrated by the artificiality of creating through a computer screen, Laly’s creativity thrives when the artist paints on canvas and rugs, producing signature pieces that instantly transform a room or space. Working in everything from modest sized paintings, to large, impactful centerpieces, Arnaud Laly’s stylish artworks are perfectly in tune with the contemporary Andalusian and avant-garde architecture prevalent in the Sotogrande lifestyle.
The influence of movements such as cubism, De Stijl and the Memphis Group is evident in your work, but you go beyond the abstract with deconstructed objects and faces. Do you take inspiration from the founders of cubism, Picasso and Braque?
Yes, Cubism is an important movement for me. The concept of deconstruction is very interesting to imagine, especially when it comes to faces. Faces have a symmetrical form, and imagining them asymmetrically offers a different reading, a new perspective. I would also include Art Deco as one of the foundational movements for me. Geometry is an integral part of my work.
Architecture, graphic shapes and colours define your work. How would you describe your signature style of art?
I come from the worlds of graphic design and architecture. Therefore, it’s a synthesis of my background in both of these fields that defines my style. I draw on the knowledge and techniques I studied in both disciplines to create a unique creative process that shapes my artistic style. So I would describe my style as colourful, geometric, bold, and luminous.
Your use of shapes and colours is very precise, giving your work a strength and energy that can transform a living space. How do you see your art integrating into interior design?
I have several types of creations; some are softer and others are more powerful. For the most powerful works, with contrast and colours, it’s interesting to position them as a centrepiece in a space. This could be on the wall or on the floor with a rug. I have an example of a client who decorated his living room with a rug and a painting, and it works well. Other works are softer, often in two colours, and are easily adaptable. I’ve also noticed that my artworks fit well in both modern and more traditional interiors; it all depends on the decoration! Additionally, I really enjoy working with large formats, as they bring an extra power.
Your work is already featured not just in paintings but also on rugs. Will we see more objets designed by Arnaud Laly in the future?
Yes, I have plenty of ideas and ongoing projects. I love the idea of stepping outside the classic format and exploring other mediums. I’m working on a version of my paintings with materials such as brass; I’d also like to adapt my creations to stained glass. Besides that, I have ideas for ceramics and sculpture. Recently, I created an XXL work on a wall, which is very interesting.
You held a successful workshop here at La Reserva de Sotogrande. Can you tell us about the experience; what is special for you about sharing your passion for creating artworks with others?
I loved conducting that workshop. It was my first time testing this new format, and the outcome was great. The challenge is to achieve results in a short time while conveying my creative process to participants. Sharing my passion is something special; it’s inspiring to see how creative everyone can be. Ultimately, it’s seeing people proud of what they’ve created which is special and important.
Do you create artworks by commission, and if so, what would be the most exciting assignment for you?
In general, I am open to all types of projects, as long as they align with my values. The most exciting project would be to decorate an entire interior, expressing myself in various ways and on multiple mediums. For example, a large mural, rugs, stained glass, sculptures, paintings, objects, etcetera! All the different elements would be intervening in a 360° manner— starting from a blank canvas.
What is the key message or emotion you are giving to the world with your eye-catching art works?
It’s not really an emotion but rather an “action”: imagination. In my compositions, I enjoy playing between the figurative and the abstract, allowing the audience to imagine. It brings me joy when I see the public looking at my creations, pondering them, and imagining faces, architecture, plans, landscapes, etc. Often, people see things I hadn’t imagined, and that’s interesting.
How was your experience interacting with the public of Sotogrande?
To tell the truth, everyone was very nice, and very curious to get to know my art. They asked me a lot of questions about my work; the guests were intrigued by my use of colours and the compositions. The guests at my exhibition were very kind and friendly, but I would say, above all, very curious, so that was a real pleasure.
How is this exhibition at La Reserva Club different from your previous exhibitions in other locations?
It’s mainly a question of the environment and the architecture. Here in Sotogrande the architecture is very present. In fact, to exhibit in a venue as stunning as La Reserva Club is a real advantage because it’s perfect for showcasing my creations. The interior design and the light enhance both the colours and the shapes. There is a real link between the architecture of a building and the colours in my paintings and I find that here, everything comes together very well. The synergy between my work and the environment here is excellent – and there is a genuine interest in exhibiting my art in Sotogrande and in La Reserva Club.
If you were inspired to create a new artwork here in Sotogrande, what colour palette would you choose to reflect the essence of the place?
Obviously, the first colour that comes to mind is blue, as bright blue, whether in the sky or the sea, is ever-present here in this stunning Mediterranean setting. The next colour I think of right away is yellow as, again, Sotogrande is blessed with a very sunny climate, and yellow evokes the year-round sunshine in the resort. Yellow is a warm colour, representative of hot, sunny Andalusia, and this, I really like. In Sotogrande, there is also an abundance of nature, so for my third colour, I would choose green and I’d make my Sotogrande-inspired creation in blue, yellow and green. These are the three colours that come to me. And obviously, as I’m drawn to architectural forms, such as Andalusian-style doors, my composition would be a representation of the Sotogrande architecture, in striking shades of blue, yellow and green.
