Roger Contreras

Around the age of 35, an Impressionist-style painting seen in a gallery triggered my particular interest in painting. From there, with bulimia, I went on visiting museums and exhibitions. From these visits, I always returned loaded with catalogs and books with the imperative need to nourish this interest.

At the same time, I frequented artists' studios. At that time, I mainly developed oil painting. I then took free courses at the Beaux-Arts in Nîmes, courses taught by Dominique Gutherz and Marcel Robelin. Then I learned engraving.

In 2000, a return to the bauxite mining site where my father worked determined the new direction of my work. I felt the need to use this red bauxite earth. Bring back memory and question myself on the meaning given to my work. At that time, I did not know that I was starting a journey that I would follow for another 20 years later. Now, I no longer use this earth but the trace with which it was marked which has become a sign and materiality of memory.