A while ago, when I first toyed with the idea of going to Paris to interview Richard Orlinski, “The world’s best Contemporary French Artist”, I read somewhere that he could be eccentric and sometimes rough around the edges – perfect recipe to rub sensitive souls the wrong way!
Needless to say, when the opportunity came to interview Richard during Baselworld, I was curious! But also eager to experience what I would imagine a unique meeting. My goal was to go with the flow, have fun and see where our conversation would lead us. Secretly I was hoping for a drop of drama, just a little for the sake of our story!
As I walked into the meeting room at the Hublot super luxury booth, my first interaction was an invitation to cheese and cured meat by Richard himself. So much for the drama and bad attitude!
His team mates, two lovely ladies welcomed me and with a big smile told me I had 15 minutes! So little time… but doable. I welcomed the challenge and went for it! I went in with the hopes to know and understand the man behind the glam and fame.
RICHARD ORLINSKI THE ARTIST
In 2004, at the age of 38, Richard Orlinski decided to dedicate himself fully to art. Inspired by nature’s wildest animals, he thrives on creating bigger than life, vivid sculptures of beasts in the most unexpected places.
Through his “Born Wild“ concept, Richard Orlinski attempts to turn the animal’s negative impulses into a positive emotion. Chances are you will have seen his brightly colored Pop Art-style multifaceted beasts somewhere before. From his immense “Wild Kong” gorilla sculpture on the Croisette in Cannes, his crocodiles in the Miami Design District to his 5-metre-tall bear on the snowy pistes of Courchevel.
RICHARD ORLINSKI, THE MAN
Under the scruffy beard, messy hair and uber casual style, Richard Orlinski is not only attractive but he also has a great sense of humour – a happy blend of sarcasm and plain funny. I enjoy ironic comments because they speak hard truths wrapped in colorful jokes.
MEET RICHARD
Can you describe Richard Orlinski in a few words?
Well a charming young man with green eyes. I get at least 100 offers a day! I’m handsome, intelligent, famous, kind, altruistic, rich, modest.. I have all the qualities in fact 🙂
It’s really hard to talk about oneself! I’m sure I have more faults than qualities.
Ok maybe this isn’t working as well! Let me ask your colleagues. What adjectives best describe him?
We need more than 15 minutes to talk about him! Richard is a Perfectionist, he’s generous, has a million ideas a second (which he follows through), demanding.
Richard: very demanding but with myself first.
How is it to work with him?
Exciting, fast.
What if you make mistakes?
Richard: out the door! They’re petrified about making any mistakes!
Me: shall we add Tyrant to our list of adjectives? 🙂
Team: no, because he is intelligent and works with us as team. We have to give 200% but so does he.
What do you think about failure?
Failure is important and necessary. I have learned a lot from my failures. I had many successes thanks to my failures. One must face and look at the failure and not avoid it. Analyze it and use it to create something amazing. It is an integral part of life and anyone who says not to have experienced it has not lived life.
But I am also very different, I have a divine gift so I never fail 🙂
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Football player. I always played but never professionally.
How did you end up in art?
As a kid, I used to make little sculptures.
How did you find your style?
With time, with my observations of life, the 30’s, the future. It’s a melting pot of several things.
Has your style changed since the beginning?
Not really, it evolves depending on the subject, the ideas. I am free which allows me the freedom to change if I want to, but I wouldn’t necessary call it a “change” but rather a movement which finds its roots in the beginnings.
Do you have idols?
You! Happy to have met you! Before meeting you I had none but now I have you.
Me: we can add Smooth Talker to our list of adjectives!
I have no real idols. I love Andy Warhol’s work for example. I appreciate people for who they are and what they have inside. I am more into the humane side of people rather than their accomplishments.
Where do you find your inspiration?
In my everyday life, in all and nothing. I can go from one thing to the next and it may seem like there is no connection between them but there really is. I don’t follow any rules.
What do you think about the art scene of today?
Today, in France, it is a small, complicated and austere world which demands to maintain old values intact (which actually are not values). They are the ones to decide what is art, what is good or bad. Since I’m part of the new school and work with different brands and mediums (TV, music…) I probably bother many as I delight others. It’s good to disrupt!
What do you think about money?
We have a big need for it! It’s a means to an end. It is there to help realize ideas and dreams.
If tomorrow was your last day on earth, what would you spend your time doing? Or who would you want to spend it with?
Make love! I don’t know. Thankfully I don’t have to ponder upon this question since I am healthy. I’d like to do it all!! I’m in constant battle with time. I want to do as many projects as possible.
I read that you contribute to multiple non-profit organizations.
A lot of them, specifically those dealing with sick kids. I like to organize art ateliers where these kids can be kids again and forget about their disposition for a minute. The exchange that happens there is absolutely incredible and nourishing. We give but we get so much more in return.
How did your collaboration with Hublot begin and why?
My collaboration with Hublot began with a meeting with Jean-Claude Biver then Ricardo Guadalupe. We were friends and since I spent quite a bit of time in Switzerland, especially Courchevele where my art was exhibited, we decided to partner up and do something together. I am not interested in one time shot projects but rather long-term ones. And what happened next is just incredible. I am, as far as I know, the only artist in the world to be able to touch the essence of a watch, meaning the “what”- we created a three-dimensional fold in the case which had to be modelled before it was cut from ceramic and titanium (a true challenge!).
My interpretation is something radically different from what has been done thus far – an original creation pushing the boundaries of traditional watchmaking. It points to the future and never stops turning, a metaphor for the infinity of time.
What I am most proud about is the bond between our two teams – our relationship is one which is solely based on trust and respect. I am beyond thrilled about the strides we have made and all the new ideas generated! Truly a dream project for any artist.
Lastly, what do you think of our interview?
Fascinating! The most fun of the day! You chose a very different path which is not easy. You showed up with questions that were outside the box and unexpected. Your questions were deep and made me think.
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