Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly met with Colbert Nourrice recently to speak about his passion for his country and his love for art. Colbert took part and won the painting competition of the Olympic Sport and Art Exhibition organized earlier in the year by the local Olympic movement (Snoc) in collaboration with the National Art Council.
Colbert considers himself to be a full time artist whilst still holding down a part-time teaching job at the International School to supplement his income. Colbert 44 is from Anse Aux Pins. He sees himself as a semi- abstract, symbols artist tackling day-to-day issues in his paintings. During our meeting with Colbert we spoke in particular about a trip abroad he made in June this year to the UK and Spain. The main purpose of this trip abroad was to participate in a symposium in Spain alongside eleven other artists from all over the world; Americans, Japanese, Austrians, Macedonians and others. Everything we needed in terms of materials for the workshop was provided for by our host, Colbert told Le Nouveau Weekly.
The Symposium was hosted by well-known Spanish gallery – Galeria de Arte Contemporaneo “Espiral” in Cantabria from 19th to 29 June, 2008. This is the third time Colbert has participated in a similar workshop and project. Previously, he has attended similar workshops in Austria and India. According to Colbert he gets to meet with professional artists at these symposiums, with which he develop a close working relationship and they all learn from each other, which he puts to the furtherance and benefit of art development in Seychelles. “Whatever I learn from my travels overseas I take it back to Seychelles where it is passed on to my pupils and to other artists with whom I collaborate from time to time”. Colbert commented. “When I tell the other artists at the workshops about Seychelles they all want to come here to take part in an art project,” Colbert added. Colbert is seriously thinking of taking his work overseas. He feels that his work is of a standard that can allow him to target Spain and other countries on a commercial basis.
Colbert Nourrice is at the forefront of art promotion and development in Seychelles. He is a member on the Board of the National Art Council (NAC) and currently the Chairman of Pro-Art Seychelles. Locally his work is exhibited at the Craft Village at Au Cap on Mahe. On Praslin at Passe Rose Gallery and Café des Art. Colbert can be contacted at his studio at the Craft Village on tel: 376100 or mobile: 779427. Colbert said that his trip overseas would not have been possible without the help and assistance he received from Air Seychelles, International School and Corperative Artisan to whom he is very grateful.
Artwork by Colbert Nourrice on display
