Kyss, b. 1949
France
Kyss' quest of the spiritual world of Asia began 30 years ago when he left France to travel through India, Nepal, Thailand and Japan. With an impeccable photo-realistic painting technique and a mastery of light and shade, Kyss depicts the particular quality of each Jayavarman (King of Cambodia) or nude image. Using acrylic paint, gold or silver leaf and other secret ingredients; in his Jayavarman paintings he depicts the ancient patina of stone statues, worn by thousands of years of monsoon rains. Kyss says “When I paint, I pray with my brush.”
Modestly, he sees himself as merely a channel between the model and the viewer. When he has finished painting, his majestic images of the Jayavarman take on a life of their own, seemingly three-dimensional and creating an atmosphere of awe-inspiring calm and serenity. Gently smiling and serene, often on a monumental scale, these peaceful, dignified faces are powerful representations of outward tranquility and inner reflection. (Kyss also paints nudes and junk boats).
Kyss will paint his subject from a figurehead (his nudes from live model). Several layers of acrylic paint are used on the canvas. His subject is then painted on these layers enhancing the texture, tones and depth by using gold and silver leaf. His technique produces an incredible three-dimensional image, almost as if it was a hologram. The text he uses are single words, stamped on, written in ancient Khmer, Thai, Chinese, Japanese and other Asian languages. Their meanings are simple; Happiness, love, health, kindness, warmth and other words that collectively do not make a single sentence but bring the understanding and feeling of peace and harmony to the viewer.