History

PHOTO @ ARNAUD SERVAL

Arnaud Serval

Fascinated when leafing through a book on Australian aboriginal art, Arnaud Serval decided when he was 19, to go and meet these people. He came back enthralled by the strength of their founding myths that give colour and deepness to their artistic creations and to their entire existence. The passion of a life was born.
Over the course of his many trips to Australia, Arnaud Serval discovered the different communities of the Central Desert, of the Kimberley and the Arnhem Land. He gained the confidence of great masters, possessors of their region’s knowledge, who embraced him to be at their side and daily-life. He tied emotional and spiritual bonds with huge artists such as Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Timmy Payungka Tjapangati, now gone, or Johnny Warrangkula Tjupurrula.
The Yuendumu community even adopted him, thanks to his beautiful encounter with one of their leaders, Paddy Nelson Jupurulla, and for whom Arnaud has become a «son» in taking the name of Tjakamarra. These special relationships have enabled him to access, step by step, to the secret knowledge of the Aborigines, to discover some of the sacred sites that often figure in their art, and to take part in ancestral rites for initiates only. For almost two decades, Arnaud Serval has been spending several months a year in the Australian bush, sharing the life of his friends, renting spaces such as the Life Centre, where artists come, create, go. He also meets and sees frequently the managers of artistic centres, gallerists, museum curators and researchers.
Alongside his trips, Arnaud has been committing himself to getting the art of the aborigines to be appreciated and known better in France and Europe. As soon as the 1990’s, right from the start, he was part of the small group of enthusiasts -collectors, men and women of science, from culture-oriented or institutional backgrounds.

Projects

Alongside his trips, Arnaud has been committing himself to getting the art of the aborigines to be appreciated and known better in France and Europe. As soon as the 1990’s, right from the start, he was part of the small group of enthusiasts -collectors, men and women of science, from culture-oriented or institutional backgrounds. With them, he has completed several cultural and artistic projects focused on Aboriginal art. Over the years, he has organized many exhibitions, in the Woo Mang gallery he created in Paris, as well as in many other prestigious premises in France, Switzerland or Australia…

Badikupa Galpa Samual
Arnaud Serval
Baker Douglas
Banalanydju Shirley
Baptiste Apuatimi Jean
PHOTO @ ARNAUD SERVAL

Badikupa Galpa Samual
PHOTO @ ARNAUD SERVAL