Invited by the town of Collioure in 2019, the painter Sen found in this place a source of inspiration as abundant as it was radiant. Collioure, a jewel of the south of France, is a coastal town of timeless charm, nestled between the sea and the mountains. Its picturesque streets, bathed in light, have always attracted painters and writers in search of visual and sensory emotions. The birthplace of Fauvism, this small Catalan port has seen artists such as Matisse and Derain, fascinated by the dazzling palette of colors.

During the two-month exhibition, Sen immersed himself in the unique atmosphere of Collioure. Like the Fauvist painters before him, he was captivated by the play of light on the sea, the imposing silhouette of the royal castle, the poetry of the Saint-Vincent chapel, perched on its rock facing the waves, and the instantly recognizable profile of the famous bell tower, a true emblem of the town.

But beyond the landscapes, it was also the soul of Collioure that inspired him: the mysterious morning mists enveloping the lighthouse, the capricious winds that rush through the mountains and turn the sails of the mill, the hundred-year-old olive trees quivering in the breeze, and above all, the inhabitants, colourful figures whose energy and authenticity infuse the town with incomparable vitality.

Through his series “Collioure mon Amour”, Sen sought to transcribe this alchemy between nature, history and the life of Collioure, thus pursuing an artistic quest where colour becomes a universal language, capable of uplifting the soul beyond reality.

Jean-Pierre de Faucigny-Lucinge
Curator of exhibitions & art collector