A painter of nature and large formats, a tireless draftsman, Charles Belle is an artist who fascinates as much as he intrigues. Having exhibited his work all over the world, including an acclaimed collaboration with double Michelin-starred chef Steven Naessens, the artist is currently starring in the film Par-delà les silences. LUXUS MAGAZINE met him for the occasion.
Charles Belle takes these crossroads, which link all art forms together, with joy and generosity, nurturing exciting adventures with filmmakers, poets, writers, chefs, musicians, composers and circus artists. The process that led to the realization of Par-delà les silences is unique, inordinate, bordering on the unthinkable… Filmmaker François Royet spent 16 years filming Charles Belle’s every gesture, every glance, every breath, in his studio and during his creations in the forest. Together, they explore the mysterious territories of art.
And all this without any didacticism – there are hardly any words in this highly accessible feature, even if you’re not an art lover. This film opens the door to inner journeys, to our deepest humanity. It’s an experience to be lived, an organic, sensory exploration far removed from the chaos of the world.
Par-delà les silences was selected by the Musée du Louvre for an exclusive preview. It has now been released in cinemas to unexpected public acclaim.
In Paris, the Cinéma Saint-André des Arts (6th arrondissement) has been showing the film for the past 11 weeks to ever-growing audiences.
Interview
LUXUS MAGAZINE: For over 16 years, you’ve been filmed in the privacy of your studio. What was it like to have your creative process documented over such a long period?
Charles Belle: Neither the filmmaker nor I had a program. I painted, he filmed. We were, each in our own art, in this pleasure of acting. That’s how it happened with François Royet. There wasn’t even a film project at the outset. It was a total, unique adventure, and we shared the same thoughts.
LM: Can you tell us about your collaboration with François Royet? How has it developed over the years?
Charles Belle: The question that brings François Royet and me together is the origin of the desire to create. We often meet around the beauty of the banal, the poetry of almost nothing, the splendor of light and the spirit of things. It’s a natural collaboration that has developed over the course of seasons and projects. François Royet would still be filming at the studio today if I hadn’t put an end to this 16-year sequence. He has hundreds of hours of rushes and is still missing images, images, images.
Click here to read the entire article on Luxus Magazine
Featured Photo: © Charles Belle