Franck Galendo
Franck Galendo is a French sculptor, visual artist, and traveling artist based in Saint-Jean-de-Moirans and affiliated with 'l'Académie du Bois Joli'. His work stands out for its process of reappropriation, where he chooses to draw and build directly upon the past and the works of other creators. Passionate about memory and sacred art, he breathes new life into ancient cultural heritages through wood carving.
Biography
Franck Galendo uses drawing and the works of the past as a direct support and foundation for his own creations, considering them as "guardian angels" that accompany and encourage him. He primarily expresses himself by engraving on ancient wood, which he covers with coatings and pigments. Defining himself as a witness and a transmitter of history, he maintains an absolute respect for the motifs he reinterprets.
A traveler at heart, he draws his inspiration from sacred art and the work of artist-artisans from distant lands, notably Ethiopia and Rajasthan in India. His sculptures play on reliefs (hollows and raised surfaces) and often take the form of triptychs. They feature a wide variety of representations: "Kufic" calligraphy, Ethiopian crosses, swastikas, Christian saints, angels, and even animals.
In late 2010, his internationally renowned work was showcased during a joint exhibition with Italian artist Bruno Gripari at the Villa des Arts in Voreppe. This event, presented under the title "Présences" or "Dans la clé du secret", invited the public to explore the themes of the imprint, mystery, passing time, and the permanence of things.
