May 25th Monte-Carlo Auction, together with VillArt, organise a big NFT sale of the artworks made by the contemporary artist Julien Marinetti, famous for his vibrant sculptures of French bulldog Doggy John, panda Bâ, duck Kwak and scull Vanité.
The event will occur at the hotel Le Meridien Beach Plaza with a private cocktail preview exhibition and an auction afterwards. But we could not wait for that date and had already met Mr Marinetti to learn more about his story, art vision, and creative processes.
Julien Marinetti
What do you think about this new NFT art generation?
NFT can be either very creative or not at all. It all depends on the artwork and the artist. This project is very different from the other NFT on the market because the client will become an owner of the NFT version and a unique «real» sculpture to admire in the privacy of their home.
What is your source of inspiration, and how did you choose your famous characters?
I find my source of inspiration in all the art, artists, literature, even music, architecture and films that I have studied throughout the years. I am passionate about art history, and there is not a single day when I don’t read or learn it. I always carry around a book about some artist. I was very young when I started visiting museums. I still remember my first visit to the Louvre and the Uffizi in Florence.
What is the technique you use to create the artwork, and how long does it take?
I use my technique, which I called «Syncretism». To make it simple, it is the merge of sculpture and painting. I use my sculptures as a canvas, as I consider myself a painter first. Once my sculptures are painted, I do a lot of engravings, which makes the bronze pop out. Then, the final «touch» that gives this incredible glossy shine is a sophisticated lacquer technique, which takes quite some time. I can’t exactly say how long it takes as there are so many steps, and it all depends on the size of the sculpture. I think I spend most of the time creating the artwork mentally, and once I start it, it comes in a flow.
When did you realise that art is your passion and want to become an artist?
I have always wanted to become an artist. When I was five, I did my first oil painting and sculpture. After that, becoming an artist was the only thing I ever wanted to be.
What do you enjoy most in your art creation process?
That’s a good question! What I enjoy the most is making pleasing people with my art. I get a lot of letters from collectors who are totally in love with their sculptures, and sometimes it has even helped them go through challenging moments. Maybe that’s what art is for.
What was the turning point in your career?
The turning point of my career was when I created my first sculpture: the Doggy John. It was immediately a fantastic success. The first Doggy John was sold within a couple of hours.
At the time, I was a neighbour with Tom Ford and Richard Burkley, and I sympathised with them. Tom Ford is one of the greatest geniuses of couture, artistic director of Gucci and Yves Saint-Laurent genius that needs no introduction. Richard and Tom had a little dog that we went for a walk from time to time, until in 2004, the day when Tom arrived at one of my vernissages crying and announced the death of their little companion “John” and offered me an Announcement death. From that day, I decided to create a little dog and the eternal & immortal animal diviner under the guise of “Doggy John”.
Is that your first NFT auction?
Yes, this is my first NFT auction. I am very grateful to work on this project with my partners « in crime » Antoine and Boris. I appreciate their youthful energy and respect for my artwork. It has been great working with them, and I am looking forward to creating other projects together.
Photographer: Yohann Gendry