Stéphane Dupuis
My work is an observation
of contemporary human behaviour
At the core of Stéphane Dupuis' work is photography. With a level of attention that is full of spontaneity, Dupuis intuitively scans the urban landscape before analysing his shots to select poses that define the connections that exist between people… or the absence of such connections. "It is precisely these poses – these interactions or non-interactions between people – that interest me the most and if what I see doesn’t add to the story I want to tell, then I remove it."
Sharing stories of urban life, Dupuis does not judge or criticise in his portrayal of contemporary city-dwellers, but rather showcases them as a mirror of society.
Stéphane Dupuis
Marseille, 20 February 1970
Lives and works in Marseille
ARTISTIC TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Self-taught with 10 years at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille public workshops (2005-2015). Avowed artist since 2017, at the age of 47.
TECHNIQUES & MATERIALS USED
Drawings made with ballpoint or felt pen and acrylic paint on paper.
COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
ODI Prize at the Salon des Beaux-Arts de Paris 2024
CARACTERES Prize at the Salon des Beaux-Arts de Paris 2023
Audience prize at the Salon International de l'Art Contemporain de Marseille 2023
My tools form the backdrop for my urban tales, which is why I remove the background
A ballpoint pen is the central tool in Stéphane Dupuis's work: “I create lines and strokes. By using one single colour of blue, I can only add darker details to my drawing. At no point can I make it lighter.” This is a technique full of long, painstaking work.
For Dupuis, the ‘limitations’ of the tool make it possible to explore different graphical forms (scribbles, monodirectional pen strokes, chevrons, etc.). In the same way, different types of pen strokes allow various volumes and materials to be created, thereby adding to the sense of realism: "I see my technique as a form of modern impressionism."
Stéphane Dupuis wants to deal with contemporary subjects by using contemporary tools: ballpoint pens, a popularised tool for discussing everyday life, and street art spray-paints to illustrate urban life: "I'm committed to consistency between the story I tell and how I tell it."
By using ballpoint pens, Dupuis is able to express a beautiful metaphor of life: “I am often told that there is no room for error when using a ballpoint pen. But in life, we sometimes make mistakes. After all, to err is human. So that's exactly what I do: I draw people”.
The subject continues to define what Dupuis uses for his art: felt-tip pens are used to depict people in motion, such as a large fresco in which the artist shares his observations of a pedestrian crossing.