© Galerie classique Arsenault &Gingras, Sherbrooke and Perce, QC, Canada,
(819) 620-6687
D. Gingras
A passion for art and science
Training
Drawing and cartooning since a very young age, he is introduced to
oil painting at the age of 10 years. Largely self-taught, he learned
the theory in books, by mean of examples, studying the great
masters in the museums of the world and, above all, by practicing
and researching in his workshop. From 1976 on, he began his great
travels around the globe. He paints and exhibits his work during
many sojourn abroad (total 14 years+ abroad: Germany (8), Japan
(2 years), France (2 years), California, Belgium, Mexico, UK, Western
Canada (2 years in BC), China, etc.). He took the opportunity to
paint, take art workshops and visit the museums of the world,
where he does not tire of studying the great masters.
-Holder of a PhD (in infrared spectroscopy applied to non-
destructive chemical analysis of paintings - physical/electrical
engineering) from the Ruhr University Bochum in Germany.
-He also attended several training workshops and short courses in
Visual arts in Canada (Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke).
-He took part in several workshops in Europe, particularly in France,
Germany and Japan:
- Workshop-Sumi-e, shiboku-ga, Japanese watercolor, Koganei-Shi,
Tokyo, 1989-1990
- Workshop - training in art history, Academia Michelangelo, Nice,
France (1999)
- Workshop of engraving at the Carnavalet Museum in Paris (2015)
- Workshop in stained glass techniques, “La maison du vitrail”, 14th
arr. in Paris (2008).
--Symposium "the Augustin Fresnel Prism: light between Arts and
Science (1790-1900)" the Louvre Museum, Paris, 2015
- Workshop and training on the grinding of colours, with Dominique
Sennelier, Couleurs du Quai Voltaire, Paris (2015)
- He also attended several trainings and workshops with local
painters (Maison Blanchette - Cap-Rouge) Quebec City and
Charlevoix (Maison Georgette Pihé, Baie St-Paul)
- He is, or has been member of several artist associations, including
the “Atelier d'aquarelle de Québec”, the “Cercle des Artistes
Peintres et Sculpteurs du Québec” (CAPSQ), the “Société des
Artistes et Artisans de Beauce”, the “Société Art-à-tout-Percé”,
Gaspé Peninsula and the
“Artistes et Peintres Associés de Sherbrooke”.
- On can find hin in the Quebec artist repertory “Guide de Roussan
du Québec” and the biennal canadian repertory Magazin’Art.
His artistic approach
Versatile artist, he is comfortable with oil, watercolor, pastel and
drawing. Born researcher, visual arts provide him an infinite
universe of expression to explore and play with, like his many
travels abroad that influence his life and the many museums
around the world that he continues to visit. Constantly looking
for new ideas and approaches, he has developed a versatility
which allows him to adapt his style and work to the inspiration,
his mood and the topic of the moment. Therefore, each work is
unique in itself and self-sustained.
Fascinated by the technical and scientific aspects of visual arts,
he makes his own supports, grind his colours and fabricate his
mediums. He takes at heart the quality and sustainability of his
work. He is greatly interested in the theoretical aspects as well,
linking science and fine arts. He wrote a few essays, including on
the theoretical models of vision and color as well as "the analysis
of a painting in term of pictorial elements: toward a
mathematical formulation of the description of a painting". He
also developed the concept of art in the art or "generational
evolutionism", providing a formal framework to create at
different spatial scales different works of art from existing
artworks.
He says: "I have to constantly switch between the abstract and
the real worlds. I like to play and reflect with the theoretical
concepts, but after a while, I have to get my hands dirty and to
experiment with the material. One feeds the other alternately.
When I'm in my workshop, I feel like a kid in a playground. The
multiplicity of current materials gives me endless possibilities.
However, theory on the physical and chemical behaviour of
these materials allows me to restrict my explorations to ensure
the sustainability of the works I make."
He is interested since recently in mixed techniques and the role
of digitalization and virtualization in the creation process and the
making of a painting.
His work
-He made his first solo exhibitions in Quebec City at the age of 14
years, from 1970 to 1974 in the old city of Quebec.
In the 1990s, he participated to more than 30 symposiums and
exhibitions across Quebec.
-He gave several lectures in Europe and Quebec, including for
example:
"Images: Their origin, their importance and their history over the
centuries" B'art of science, Paris, 2006.
"Colours: Their history and their manufacturing" B'art of science,
Paris, 2008.
Fellow from the City of Paris in 2008, he worked at the Observatory
of Paris and explored the theme “Arts and the stars”.
-For more than 10 years now, he is involved in the restoration of
paintings and old prints.
-D Gingras was the subject of numerous articles in newspapers and
particularly by some written by art critics such as Mr Guy Robert.
- One can find his artworks in many countries: Canada, USA, France,
Germany, Japan, Mexico, Belgium...
His problem: he doesn’t have enough of 24 hours a day.
His exhibitions
Among the main solo and collective exhibitions he made, we find:
1998 : " Pré-textes à l’image ", Solo, Musée Marie Fitzbach, Beauce,
Québec.
1998 : "Le pastel aux quatre saisons",
Alain Grandbois Gallery- library, Solo, Saint-Augustin de Desmaures,
Qc.
1999 : "Saveurs du Maroc", Solo, Art gallery " Au Chat Dormant ",
Québec City.
2000 : "Souvenirs de Provence", Solo, Art gallery “Au Chat Dormant,
Québec City.
2001: “Nouvelle-France”, Solo, Musée acadien du Québec,
Bonaventure, QC.
He also made a few exhibitions abroad:
1996: Collective exhibition, Charente-Maritime, France.
1998 : Collective exhibition, Galerie Régence, Braine-l’Alleud,
Belgium.
1993-1997: Collective exhibition, Yumei gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
