A19
Art as an Opportunity
When I injured my drawing hand in New York a few years ago; when I sketched around my Paris neighborhood during the pandemic lockdown; or when I almost burned out recording all sorts of sporting events at the recent Olympic Games, the simple act of drawing was not always easy, but it never failed to reward me with new and exciting projects. In this talk I’ll share how art has enriched my life and given me the hope and energy to face challenging situations.
Marielle Durand
Belgian-born artist and author Marielle Durand has been following her guiding principle of drawing on location for over 25 years. She likes to capture the beauty behind ordinary and extraordinary moments, whether she is exploring the Algerian Desert, visiting the Auvergne region or strolling around her Parisian neighborhood. Since 2022, she belongs to a small group of artists invited to draw the political debates inside the French Parliament. A series of watercolors Durand painted on the spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were recently exhibited at Art-Maniak Gallery in Paris and are the subject of her most recent book “Paris Jeux t’aime.”
Instagram @marielledurand.artist