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From shadow to light, two paintings deciphered
The first was produced in front of a camera in December 2017, a premonitory cave exit. A refined, fluid work and a message delivered: "As in diving, weightlessness no longer exists, beyond the blue there is light, see how good I am, rejoice", revealed to his loved ones in October 2018. “We can only live in the open, exactly on the hermetic line dividing light and shadow” wrote Rene Char.
The second work with a lot of material is the final one produced by the master of blue in June 2018. A final dive into the depths with this atypical cave entrance, going from sky blue, starry with mauve, to night blue so characteristic of Laban.
Two mirrored canvases, perfect symmetry, a whole symbolism, the water above and the water below, a connection that we could only make in hindsight.
Two works that Andre Laban will certainly have wanted to associate, like a diptych of shadow of light in fundamental unity. As a composer, as a conductor, the comparison with “Le Concert” by Nicolas de Staël is obvious, as an ultimate testimony to his work, the questioning results and the emotion becomes palpable.
Laurent Cadeau
A testimony on Andre Laban
A testimony by John Christopher Fine, marine biologist and American writer, published on Andre Laban in the Anglo-Saxon press.
Andre Laban
Underwater painting
Andre Laban is a pioneer of the Cousteau team and an internationally famous underwater painter.
Born in Marseille, October 19, 1928, Andre Laban embarked in 1952 as the chemical engineer on board the Calypso. He is a World-renowned French diver, photographer, author, and painter.
Andre Laban, was a pioneering member Jacques-Yves Cousteau's Calypso team, serving as chief engineer and diver. He developed early underwater cameras that were used in shooting The Silent World, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 1956.
Andre Laban shot several films in the Cousteau Odyssey series, co-directed three, and his distinctive bald-head can been seen in several Cousteau films.
From 1956-1966, he was Director of the French Office Underwater Search. From 1966, he began to paint his underwater images, which are internationally acclaimed and collected worldwide.
In 1996 he won the Palme d’Or at the World Festival Underwater Images in Antibes, for his film, "Iris and Oniris". A collection of the photographs he produced from 1973 to 1983 has been published as "One Bald Man", released in 2007. Andre Laban is the recipient of numerous international awards.
He is the artist who supported Maecene Arts Foundation since 2013.
Andre Laban died on October 10, 2018 in his workshop in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val.
Discover the catalogue of Andre Laban’s works, contribute:
Passion of blue
Andre Laban is a man of legend and is known in the world as the first artist painting under water, his Passion of blue.
Media personality
Art criticism, tribute
