Up Close … with visual artist Allen Gervais Comettant |12 December 2017

‘Art is my life’

By U-Roy Jules

Allen Gervais Comettant is an artist born in Seychelles. He spent most of his childhood in the hillside village of Maldive in the Anse Etoile district where he still resides. He has always been enthralled by his immediate surroundings and the world along with its existence.

His interest in art has been from a young age and he was encouraged by his Swedish art teacher to expand his artistic talents.
We become our art, it reflects who we are, what we believe, how we perceive the world and ourselves in it.  Ultimately it is like putting our soul on a 2-D plane for people to see us.  But that's taking it to the farthest place of where vision goes.  In the simplest form, Allen’s works showcase how he wants to be seen in the world. 

Allen has mastered the art of creativity and is able to portray a message by just using art.

In our Up Close column this week, the artist talks about his childhood, professional life as an artist, social Life and family and friends.

Childhood memories

Only 44 years old, Allen was born on April 7, 1973. He was brought up by his late father Joseph Comettant and his mother Therese Crista Comettant

He grew up in the sub-district of Maldive at Anse Etoile and sometimes at Anse Etoile at his grandma’s house.

“My childhood revolved around the Anse Etoile district at times at the hospital. I was an asthmatic boy and my mum would not let me play outside too much and sometimes I will go to my grandma’s house,” he says.

After spending two years in science at the National Youth Service (NYS), he decided that science was not the way to go, his compass always pointing towards art. He wanted to communicate with the world by using the power of art.

“I started in crèche at Maldive, then I went to Anse Etoile school, after which I went to NYS. I did well in national exams and I was a SC1 student. After the NYS I chose the School of Art and Design at the Seychelles Polytechnic to further my interest in art. In 1991 I entered the School of Art and Design, where after three years I graduated with a distinction in graphics art and also with Cambridge University. I also received the President’s Cup for the most dedicated student for the whole Seychelles Polytechnic and the best academic student for the School of Art and Design,” he says.

Growing up and spending time with his dad -- who was a painter decorator -- allowed him to further is interest in art and discover that art solves many issues in the world.

“My father used to paint buildings and maybe this is where my interest in painting came from. I am not in a hurry to get ahead, I like taking things at my own pace. I am patient, I like to get my priorities right and set goals that are attainable. I’m a very humble person,” Allen says.

Professional life as an artist

Between the years 1999 and 2007, Allen worked on numerous projects such as the logos for the CJSOI games Seychelles hosted in 1999, youth department, The Seychelles millennium celebration, Youth Games and activities, among others.

Through art he enjoys using bright colours and a diversity of shapes in the conception of his works. He uses an enlightened artistic technique to portray the reality of life.

“I love creating artworks and painting is not the only way through which I express myself. I write poems at times and tried writing song lyrics also in my spare time. I also do some graphic design. Since I started my career I have done so many projects such as exhibitions at the National Art Gallery. One entitled Nou a swazir was in preparation for my participation in the 5th Francophone games in Niamey in 2005. I gave the opportunity to the public to help me select a piece to represent them with. In 2009, I had another solo at Alliance Française des Seychelles called Lar Revolisyon which kind of showed my own revolution in style,” he says.

Besides enjoying art Allen also has another passion which is to help the weak and the poor to be successful.

“I’m a person that believes in God and I focus on trying to help the weak and the poor. My life is based on a job as a civil servant where my artistic skills come into play. I do graphic design work in the Environmental Education Section of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. At the moment I also help when there's outing in nature with kids. I'm working on building my house and I'm at the last preparatory stage. I'm looking for a quotation from a contractor so I can apply for a loan for that project. I enjoy listening to music when I paint. I enjoy painting with my son Almayah who is 8 years old this year. He is the most important person in my life. I enjoy photographing him since birth. I've been taking pictures of him or with him ever since he was born. He always features on my Facebook profile!” Allen says.

The founder in 2005 of the company ‘La Comet Art0Work’, Allen engages in advertising and artworks promoting businesses. He hopes that he will be able to apply his style of work to serve the Seychelles both locally and beyond its shores.

“I truly believe that artists should be supported financially because not every day does an artist sell some art work. Some people think that government should give financial support to creative artists such as painters and musicians. Others believe that creative artists should be funded by alternative sources,” he says.

Interest and social life

Besides being a talented artist, he also does some community work in his district.

“I am also a member of the national mental health advisory committee which is drafting the new legislation. Art is my life and so there’s always something I’m doing that demands my artistic viewpoint in everything.  I also enjoy reading books especially about human development and spiritual growth,” Allen says.

Throughout my career, and since a very young age, my family and friends have always supported me and boosted my confidence.

“Even if my dad had his fair share of influence on me, my mum always gave me the extra motivation, because she is a hard working person and also we came from a humble background. I had one lady friend, Ms Laporte, who was always encouraging me to push my art forward. She  was a true motivation and support for my work. I wish to thank her for all she has done and is still doing for me,” he says.

Final thought                                 

As parting note, Allen says: “Stay focused in your goals and don’t give up on your dreams because you alone can make things happen. Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.”

Some of Allen’s paintings