After studying film-making at the Conservatoire Libre du Cinema Francais, Olivier Camen starts his career in the broadcasting world and realising set designs. He then moves to textile decoration, which will be the basis of his art when he becomes full time artist.

In his words,

“I work on memory, either individual (La Robe Couleur du Temps) or collective (Memoires, Le Bruit de la Soie)
Whatever the subject is, it needs to echo my own story. I have a strong link with images, and this is probably why I always start off with a photograph, usually in black and white.
Technically, I enlarge a document and print it on canvas. The change of scale reveal details which were until then invisible to the eye. I start putting colour to the document, and “dream” it. I begin a process whereby I appropriate it to myself.
Then comes the embroidery work, with thread and needle, which is a way to create a new intimate dimension with the image, and to establish a dialogue between past and present.
When I was a child, I would spend hours watching my grand mothers embroidering. Time seemed to stand still…
To embroider is like drawing, one works with lines.
Whatever the subject, I simply try to evoque, intuitively. I try to disappear behind the subject, to let my work touch the viewer.”


ARTIST'S CV

Solo exhibitions


2018
« Transitions, we are all immigrants » - Artspace / New-York

« Olivier Camen fait son cinéma » - Galerie Sophie Julien / Château l’Hospitalet – Narbonne, France

2017
« Duo » with Christophe Stouvenel / Galerie Sophie Julien – Béziers, France

2016
« Les enfants d’Izieu » - with the collaboration of Maison d’Izieu / Château Vargoz – Sérignan, France

2015
« Postcards from heaven » / Bernard Chauchet Contemporary Art /London

2012
« Le bruit de la soie, 17 fois Maria CALLAS » / Galerie Yves Faurie – Sète, France

2011
Presentation of « La robe couleur du temps » - video installation/ Montpellier, France

« Memories » / Galerie Yves Faurie – Sète, France

2009
« Entre ciel et mer » - Galerie Basia Embiricos / Galerie Basia Embiricos – Paris, France

2008
« A woman’s tales » - Galerie Yves Faurie / Sète – Sète, France

2007
« Se souvenir des jolies choses » / Unknown, France



Group exhibitions


2018
Art Up Lille - Galerie Sophie Julien / Lille, France

2015
London Art Fair - Bernard Chauchet Contemporary Art /London

2014
London Art Fair - Bernard Chauchet Contemporary Art /London

2010
PHOTO OFF / Paris

CHIC ART AND FAIR - Basia Embericos Gallery/ Paris


Permanent collections


2012
Series « Maria Callas », Gilbert Ganivenq collection, France

2009
Series « Entre ciel et mer » - Gilbert Ganivenq collection at l’Hôtel de Paris à Sète, France


Prizes


2018
DILCRAH Award for the project "Les enfants d’Izieu"– France

2017
Grant from Occitanian Region for the project « Les enfants d’Izieu »– France

2009
DRAC LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON Grant for the individual creative work of " La robe couleur du temps "– France