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Lot Essay
Christof Monnin, multi-faceted artist, painter but also author, composer and performer was born in 1968 in Montbéliard, France. He made his debut in painting at the age of 7 where he obtained his first prizes. Quickly spotted by international merchants, he will extend his work around the world until reaching, at 20 years, a meteoric rise with the most appreciated exhibitions as well in New York, in Moscow in Lebanon but also in Qatar without forgetting of course in the largest French cities being his country of origin. This artist is always looking for quality and innovation. He masters his art of painting with a knife while keeping a blazing dynamism. He knows through graphics, bring emotion to his works at the height of his fame. It is present in more than 400 galleries in 28 countries. An artist with a big heart, he participates in national and international donations for the benefit of disadvantaged people, genetic diseases, Restos du cœur in France… Always with his hand on his heart and ready to help his neighbour despite his reputation, this does not prevent him from thinking of others in parallel. He shares the passion for writing and has written several books. He is also author, composer, performer, with more than 14 albums of French pop songs today with texts revealing the human nature, the daily life of each and melodies that remain engraved in the memory of fans. This artist, now with more than 35 years of experience, remains humble and fulfilled. His work is appreciated by many collectors but also art lovers or ordinary people who like to bring light and color into their home which is the strength of this artist....
I decided to accompany the Philippe & Elisabeth Dufour Foundation because their approach touched me. Using our art and talent to help the most disadvantaged people who do not have access to art and the purchase of art because secondary to them and less important than their daily survival is commendable. But to imagine that my art which is totally inaccessible to them can, by its sale, allow those in need to have the hope of a better life rejoices my heart. I find it magical that an object of a world that is totally foreign to them will allow them to keep hope in the human and mutual aid. My flamboyant paintings are often qualified as warming interiors where they are hung, and the metaphor is beautiful in imagining that the gain of the sale will perhaps serve to put these people warm and/ or sheltered from the weather.
My canvas with Dufour watches was made in this way. I wanted a canvas in relief with asperities, holes representing the accidents of life, nothing smooth or flat because life offers us the good of joy but also pains, sorrows, tears… This is what the relief of my canvas represents but also surrounded by these watches that define the time that passes and that never stops. What’s the point of having time if it’s just to kill him! So you have to enjoy every moment without wasting it and use it wisely. And that’s why I associated Dufour watches to show that despite the vagaries of life, despite the doubt, the Philippe & Elisabeth Dufour Foundation puts its time at the service of others and that despite the needles of their watches that are constantly spinning, they put all their energy into making the lives of disadvantaged people sweeter and help them get through these difficult times by keeping a smile on their face and allowing them to believe in better days. Time is not just to be killed...
I decided to accompany the Philippe & Elisabeth Dufour Foundation because their approach touched me. Using our art and talent to help the most disadvantaged people who do not have access to art and the purchase of art because secondary to them and less important than their daily survival is commendable. But to imagine that my art which is totally inaccessible to them can, by its sale, allow those in need to have the hope of a better life rejoices my heart. I find it magical that an object of a world that is totally foreign to them will allow them to keep hope in the human and mutual aid. My flamboyant paintings are often qualified as warming interiors where they are hung, and the metaphor is beautiful in imagining that the gain of the sale will perhaps serve to put these people warm and/ or sheltered from the weather.
My canvas with Dufour watches was made in this way. I wanted a canvas in relief with asperities, holes representing the accidents of life, nothing smooth or flat because life offers us the good of joy but also pains, sorrows, tears… This is what the relief of my canvas represents but also surrounded by these watches that define the time that passes and that never stops. What’s the point of having time if it’s just to kill him! So you have to enjoy every moment without wasting it and use it wisely. And that’s why I associated Dufour watches to show that despite the vagaries of life, despite the doubt, the Philippe & Elisabeth Dufour Foundation puts its time at the service of others and that despite the needles of their watches that are constantly spinning, they put all their energy into making the lives of disadvantaged people sweeter and help them get through these difficult times by keeping a smile on their face and allowing them to believe in better days. Time is not just to be killed...