DIDIER SAINT MELIN
Many of his works speak with an insistently seductive voice. Saint Melin states, "There is that which is in between the realm of the seen and the unseen, known and unknown, sound and silence, existence and potential, image and creation, thought and counter thought. It is that from which the seed of all potentiality emanates. It is the space between..."
Didier Saint Melin is a strong man of passion whose search for meaning in the universe translates to his canvasses. His impressive works attract the viewer and create a feeling of inquisitiveness as to their message and origin. The magic of creating for him is to work intuitively letting that which is unknown come to the surface. His paintings seem to grow out of the depths of his being from his heart and soul. During the process it is apparent that he paints the way he feels at the time.
A quest for spiritual transcendence exists in Saint Melin's paintings, transcendence grafted with the concept of individual vision that affects one's perception of the world. A combination of Eastern and Western philosophies in contemporary terms pervades his work. Saint Melin places an emphasis on control, balance, composition and the craft of the East while combining it with the spontaneity, directness and reductive tendencies of the West. The result is unique pieces that capture the attention and imagination of the viewer.
Saint Melin's sense of angularity and unbridled energy is evident in his works. He retains the sense of expressive subject matter, but then he infuses it with a white hot energy. Color is not always an important part of his work.The artist's total involvement and dynamism for the moment allows him the freedom to communicate and explore various pictorial languages. His paintings are sufficiently individual to be given their own place and time.
Born in Paris, France, Saint Melin is a world traveler who maintains a studio in Durango, Mexico. His is a sophisticated view of the world. Art consumes his life. His presence is electric and he infuses his space with lively conversation rife with thought provoking ideas. His solo exhibitions include Los Angeles, Paris, Guadalajara, Durango and Mexico City.
Jean McKig
Art Critic
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1976 ARTYTECH. Espace Pierre Cardin. Paris, France
1991 SALANDER O'REILLY GALLERY. Beverlly Hills, CA, USA
1992 TAH GALLERY. Pasadena, CA, USA
1992 ARTIST OPEN STUDIO. Downtown Los Angeles, CA. USA
1993 BEL AIR BAY CLUB. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1993 DADA DOWNTOWN ART DEVELOMPENT ASSOCIATION. L.A., CA. USA
1994 TENTH LA RAZA FESTIVAL. Tijuana, Baja Ca. Mexico.
1994 SELF HELP GRAPHICS GALLERY. Los Angeles, CA. USA
1994 FINE ART AT FACTORY PLACE . Los Angeles, CA. USA.
1996 MUSEO DEL PALACIO LEGISLATIVO. Mexico, D.F.
2002 CASA DE LA MONJA, DURANGO POR EL ARTE. Durango, Dgo. Mexico
2002 PUNTA NORTE, Palacio Legislativo, Mexico. D.F
2002 MUSEO ANGEL ZARRAGA. Durango, Dgo, Mexico
2003/2004 GALLERY AT THE RITZ CARLTON, Laguna Nigel, CA, USA
INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS
1991 LA VIE ARTIST STUDIO. Los Angeles, Ca. USA
1992 WEST CENTRAL PRODUCE ART. Violet St. Gallery. Los Angeles, CA USA
1993 OPENING ARTIST STUDIO, Factory Place, Los Angeles, CA USA
1994 JONATHAN TOWN CLUB. Los Angeles, Ca. USA
1997 MODERN ART GALLERY TORRES BODET. Guadalajara, Jal. Mexico
1998 MUSEO ANGEL ZARRAGA. Durango, Dgo. México
1998 ESPACE IKEWA "SAINT MELIN". Paris, France
1999 GALLERY FACTORY PLACE , Los Angeles, CA USA
2000/2004 ESPACE IKEWA "IKEWA 2000" Paris, France
2004 DON O'MELVENY GALLERY, Los Angeles, CA, USA (April 2004)
2004 ENCUENTRO ENTRE DOS NATIONES, HAVANA, CUBA
2004 CENTRE CULTUREL DU MEXIQUE, HAVANA, CUBA
2004 DON O'MELVENY GALLERY, Los Angeles, CA, USA (November 2004)
2005 DON O'MELVENY GALLERY, Los Angeles, CA, USA (July 2005)
2006 DON O'MELVENY GALLERY, Los Angeles, CA, USA (October 2006)
PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS
ESPACE IKEWA. Paris, France
IRMA VALERIO GALLERY. Zacatecas, Zac. Mexico
PROFESIONNAL STUDIES
ECOLE DES BEAUX ARTS, Paris, France
LUCIEN JAY' STUDIO, Paris, France
FEDERICO ZERI'S STUDIO. Florence , Italy
PROFESIONNAL TEACHINGS
1998 ABSTRACT PAINTING LECTURE. Wasco State Prison. Wasco, CA, USA
1999 ABSTRACT PAINTING LECTURE. Wasco State Prison. Wasco. CA, USA
COLLECTORS
IKEWA AZIADE, MARC CHASMAN, STEVEN CHASMAN, RODOLFO ELIZONDO, JIMMY GALANOS, PATRICK KNIPPER, PHILIPPE DE ROTHSCHILD, ARTURO SCHNEIDER.
EXPERIENCE:
1982 - 1990 created the DIDER MELIN fashion line in Paris, France.
DIDIER MELIN, THE FASHION LINE Commercials aired on National TV in France on Canal+, TF1, FR3.
NATIONAL FASHION EXHIBITION TOUR sponsored by PEUGEOT automobiles.
NATIONAL PRESS COVERAGE in Le Figaro Magazine, Harper Bazaar, Liberation, L'Echo De La Mode.
SALON DU PRET A PORTER DES CREATEURS, 1982-1990
FESTIVAL DE LA MODE, Paris, France, 1983-1988
DEFILE AT THE EIFFEL TOWER, introducing the SAINT MELIN FASHION LINE, 1986.
OTHER:
2004 actor ("The Boss") in a Luc Besson / Europa Production "The Transporter" with Jason Statham.
1972 actor, "Absences Repetees" directed by Guy Gilles, with Yves Robert.