Visit to the studio of Stefan Szczesny
Côte d'Azur - the magical light of the south!
July 2023
Stefan Szczesny, the international artist originally from Germany was visited by La Esplora in his studio in St. Tropez.
The inspiring light that has attracted many artists to the peninsula of St. Tropez can be experienced in the light-flooded studio of Stefan Szczesny. Here the artist paints and designs his works. Stefan Szczesny paints, creates ceramic vases, sculptures and also paints surfboards. All of his colorful works convey one message: positive joie de vivre – La vie est Belle!
La Esplora: How did you come to move to St. Tropez at that time?
Stefan Szczesny: I came to St. Tropez in 2001. Before that, we lived in many places around the world, including many years in New York City. It was the light that is so special in St. Tropez and fascinated me. The region has a microclimate that provides warm winters. Even in January you have many warm days around 20 degrees. My wife and I appreciate that it never gets really cold here. Nature shows a special play of colors in January/February each year – when the mimosas bloom beautifully yellow everywhere.
LA ESPLORA: Where do you get the inspiration for your images? Do the pictures arise spontaneously on a whim?
Stefan Szczesny: That’s still a good question – basically I already have the images ready in my head. I know exactly what a picture looks like when it’s finished, and only then do I put it on paper. A picture with bright colors takes time. In order for the colors not to run together and lose their luminosity, you need to systematically approach a picture creatively.
LA ESPLORA: You live permanently in St. Tropez – where others go on vacation. Where does Stefan Szczeny prefer to vacation?
Stefan Szczesny: We live where others go on vacation. The need to see something different is satisfied by a variety of business trips, international exhibitions such as in New York, Venice. After that, I’m always happy to come back home – to St. Tropez.
LA ESPLORA: Do you still live on the Caribbean island of Mustique at times, right?
Stefan Szczesny: No we do not live there anymore, we have not been there for three years now, but we are planning to fly there again this year.
LA ESPLORA: What is your personal favorite restaurant in St. Tropez?
Stefan Szczesny: In St. Tropez there are very many and good restaurants. One of my favorite places is the restaurant Plage Salins, which is a great beach restaurant right by the sea and also not yet as busy with tourists as some other beach clubs in St. Tropez. I have also captured this restaurant with its impressions in my pictures.
And the beach club “Loulou” (“une ode à la dolce vita”) is certainly also one of my recommendations. Very great is also the famous restaurant “Le Café”, located directly at the Place des Lices in the center of St. Tropez. In the evening there singers interpret old French chansons. The restaurant “Le Sénéquier” at the harbor with the red chairs also serves very good cuisine.
LA ESPLORA: Where will your next exhibitions take place?
Stefan Szczesny: In Berlin, the exhibition “Painting Paradise” will be held at Kunsthaus Artes from July 1 to September 3, 2023. There will be another exhibition in Zurich at Galerie Reitz on September 5, 2023.
Thank you very much, dear Stefan Szczesny for this inspiring meeting in your studio.
Andrea Bornkessel
About the artist
Stefan Szczesny with his colorful art, lively messages, has repeatedly participated in large projects of international aid organizations.
In 2000, at the request of the WWF, he created a “World Map of Life” of large-format ceramic murals for the World Exhibition in Hanover. The project includes 12 ceramic paintings, each measuring 3.3m x 8.3m, which decorate the WWF pavilion.
He was chosen to artistically interpret the Sustainable Development Goals of the global community and the United Nations. The artist is currently creating a total of 17 unique pieces for #Art4GlobalGoals with the support of UNESCO, the YOU Foundation and Geuer & Geuer Art, which will be used worldwide to publicize and visualize the goals by 2030.
Studio
Stefan Szczesny – szczesny-art-shop.com/product-category/prints
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