Mada Vicassiau
With a focus on material specificity, Mada Vicassiau's paintings are a meditation on color, form, and space.
Where are you from and where do you reside?
I was born in the south of France, and now live and work in London, UK.
What necessities do you require when making your art?
I require silence but love to listen to podcast like Talk Art by Russell Tovey and Robert Diament for a break. My studio is my refuge - I close the door and I feel at my happiest. I do have a tendency of having a favorite brush and just cannot let go of it until the very end of a painting session.
Describe a typical day in the studio for you.
I don’t have a typical day at the studio. It all depends on how my life is going outside of the studio. If it’s hectic, the studio helps me to get balanced again. If I feel focused, I will work straight through the day. If I’m exhausted, I will do easier tasks until I can find a meditative state between play and awareness.
What is the most difficult part of the artistic process for you?
I very much enjoy starting a new body of work as stepping into the unknown is difficult but exciting.The most difficult thing is having a short deadline!
How do you choose your materials?
I have an idea of a texture I would like to achieve and I experiment with lots of materials until I come close to where I want to go. Sometimes, it’s nowhere near where it was expected, but it’s the process of discovery that gives new direction to the work. I like working with acrylic inks and limewash paint. I also collect lots of vintage fabrics so they also get incorporated in the work.
Are there any aspects of your process that are left to chance?
The process is quite intuitive, so yes happy accidents happen, and when it doesn't work, I put it aside and to be transformed later into something new.
I have an idea of a texture I would like to achieve and I experiment with lots of materials until I come close to where I want to go. Sometimes, it’s nowhere near where it was expected, but it’s the process of discovery that gives new direction to the work. I like working with acrylic inks and limewash paint. I also collect lots of vintage fabrics so they also get incorporated in the work.
Mada Vicassiau
Do you find that environment or location relates to your work?
The last few years I’ve been in my London studio and found myself dreaming of other places and drawing from memory and feelings different from my surroundings. I like escape, and I find it more readily in the inaccuracy of memory. I would be curious to see how my work changes in different places. I think I will still be dreaming of another place.
Are you influenced by any author or non-visual artist? Are you influenced by any artist that does something completely different than you?
I have a long list but to name a one in particular, I would say Rose Wylie. While totally different, I like her irreverence, humor, and how accurate her paintings are. I also love Tacita Dean and her incredible eye for capturing surreal coincidences in one moment.
Do you remember the first work of art that captured your attention?
Sophie Calle - her work opened the door to conceptual art for me, and I went to art school in Paris after completing a foundation in Biarritz in the south of France. This foundation was in a monastery, and monks cohabited with art students!
Is there any artwork on display in your home/studio? Whose is it?
My son understood from a very young age the concept of putting work on a wall. He has covered the whole house, and a few artworks from Cathie Pilkington remain. He has a small corner at the studio too.
What’s one of your favorite objects you own? What’s the story?
A dandelion in a small beautiful wooden box a friend gave me. He told me he managed to keep it for 10 years and told me, “I bet it won’t last a year with you”…I’ve now had it for more than 20 years and moved several homes with it.
Published October 23, 2024.
