Each atelier is marked with a bright red poster, with two faces kissing (well this is Paris). The theme seems to be temptation. Once you get into the habit of going into one artist’s atelier, it soon becomes addictive. The work is diverse, anything from kinetic art to figurative works to rugged constructions, using often recycled material taken from the streets. There is sometimes the smell of oil paints and other vestiges of artist’s materials. But oils are not the only material; the aerosol can also seems to be a highly prized artist’s material. Not only is there evidence of aerosol usage in the ateliers but also certain streets seem to be smothered in graffiti expressing different ideas...some of a radical political nature.

The area seems to have a special vibrancy and buzzes with activity. I find the artist going about different activities while their space is being invaded. There was one woman I dared not accost, she was playing guitar and to disturb her concentration seemed like a major incursion. Her work looked well executed but of a disturbing nature, a tortured mind at work, who seemed to find solace in playing gentle guitar chords?

One artist with a highly eccentric nature had dubbed himself the last Picasso, quite a compliment to pay oneself. I had received an e mail from a prolific American artist called Marcus McAllister, whose atelier was brimming with a variety images, including a painting of a copious sized rabbit. I had to admire his technique and the variety of images. He has obviously stuck around Paris for a while and found his niche.

I found myself back at a place I had seen previously only in the dark, having been to a Film screening. LA Forge for me, was impressive, not all the work, but the working space. I found there was a contrast, some of the work being of a surprisingly conservative, commercial nature, while others were more brusque, an artists fantasy of how to recycle and make use of objet trouvé.

It was all very refreshing and inspiring. I returned on the Monday, only to find tiredness about the area. Perhaps some of the artists had long waned and were fed up with questioning as to the thought behind their work, and the intrusion into their space was too much. I went back to La Forge and met another American who had lived around Europe and who had a piece work with the simple and precise slogan “God loves graffiti”. This sentiment I can’t vouch for, but Belleville seems to and seems to produce a rich vein of art and culture.

Francis H. Powell is originally from England and moved to Paris in 1999. In addition to being a writer (articles, songs and poems), he is a painter, DJ and English trainer. For more information, please click here to read his complete bio.

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