Philippe Manuel Mercier

The foundations and motivations of his art stem from a classically based origin, an evolution of many thousand years, which are constantly reshaped in total harmony with it’s ambient surroundings. With his shapes, half way between a basic, original and primitive spirituality and of a vision devoid of all stylistic prejudice, the guiding line of his curves is endless, like ripples in the stream that encircle each hollow, in the same way he explores the emptiness and hollowness of ideological thoughts and harsh deeds affecting man in his verticality. The origin of art and it’s need to portray itself since time immemorial does not only draw it’s inspiration from the beauty of aesthetic shapes, but from the need for one to establish a more intimate relationship with the divine, the powerful force which penetrates our very being with short flashes that overwhelm us, leaving us with a greater understanding of everything. He endeavors to create the slender link and bond for a greater vision of the UNITY. The understanding of the Universe is the best way to subdue the philosophical question of our very existence. "The realization of my thoughts into practical concrete shapes creates the deeply-needed vacuum in my mind to accommodate numero...

He was born on February 11,1956 in the small town of Argenteuil on the Seine, a commune highly appreciated by the first impressionists. His background is from a family of engravers « La Monnaie of Paris », porcelain paint designers and crafters of stone. At an early age he became interested in designing , always seeking perfection. He realized his artistic ability when his art master in the sixth form at school refused to believe that the author of these drawings had any future, so from then on, he rejected the rather limited artistic school education so that he could concentrate on and develop his own progression by his own means. He did his first sculptures in wood, but such was his respect for the spirit of the stone, that he dared not deviate from the path emanating from it’s soul and structure. He went on to study as a surveyor where he learned how to handle the quill and use water colors and with the precision and rigor it revealed the essence and detailed perfection of his work. Smitten by adventure, he went to America for a whole year and hitch-hiked across the States ; in Cleveland he painted some murals and also carved out some totem sculptures in Marlington in the Appalachans, with axe and chain-saw. On his return t...

1975 : « LES PEINTRES ET LE PUBLIC » - Mairie d’Argenteuil, France
1976 : « LES TRAITS ET L’ARABESQUE » Mairie de Franconville, France
Murale Paintings - Cleveland OHIO (U.S.A.)
TOTEM SCULPTURE - Hillsboro W. VIR. (U.S.A.)
1977 : Galerie St. Jean - Québec (Canada)
1978 : « A TOUTES AMES D ’ ATOLL»
1979 : Prieuré de Serrabonne - Boule d’Amont,
1984 : « LA PEINTURE ET LA PHOTOGRAPHIE »
1985 : SACEM - Neuilly, France
1986 : S.F.P. - Paris, France
1987 : Yearling du champs de courses - Deauville
1988 :Salon des Peintres et Sculpteurs
1993 : Syndicat d ’ Initiative -Ceret , France
« Les chemins du fauvisme »-Galerie Perpignan,
Château Royal - Collioure,
1994 : Château Royal - Collioure, France
Hôtel de Ville - Tautavel, France
1995: Salon de l’Ile de Ré - St. Martin en Ré, France
Clinique JACOBS - Düsseldorf, Germany
1996 : Salon France 3 au Conseil Général des Charentes- Maritimes, France
A LA PAGE - Collioure, France
Ready -made «Allégorie aux temps passés » Port - Vendres, France
1997 : Galerie Art Déco - St. Martin en Ré, France
Galerie BERNADOT - Toulouse, France
Galerie St. Jean - Perpignan, France
Rivage des Arts - Elne...