ARTIST
Flavien ‘Mambo’ Demarigny
France
Mambo started graffiti in 1985 and stopped in 1992. From early on he pursued painting as a studio practice while painting in the streets. He likes to call his early graffiti period „Subway Art School Years“. Mambo was always inspired by humanity and human behavior which is a core topic in his art practice. “My inspiration comes from humanity, society and nature. My artworks tend to describe the DNA, neurons and synapses as a metaphor for networks, going from ecology to politics, urbanism and technology, pointing at their similarities, connections and how elements are interdependent, just as we are as humans.“ He learned to be curios and respectful in social interactions when he grew up and still he promotes a kind and polite relationship between all human being through his art. His personal key objective is: „The more we listen to each other, the more we can understand our differences.“ (Mambo, 2017)
In 2015, Mambo started with a new series of abstract paintings. When Mambo confronted the public with his very new and different approach he decided to sign them with his first name, Flavien, because they appeared exceedingly different from his well-known paintings. The technic is a result of a long-standing study and experience in art, but also influenced by the assistant years to Sol LeWitt, in the mid 90ies. Going from expressionist to optical and minimal art, Mambo enjoys, through Flavien, experimenting different versions of styles that he admires. Artists that he admires and includes in his art practice are Franck Stella, Yayoi Kusama, Ellsworth Kelly, Piet Mondrian and Jackson Pollock.