Your work is very diverse . You work in many mediums from concrete to oil paint . Do you have a favorite ?
Ha , my favorite is whatever I ’ m up to my neck in at the moment ! Each new idea , has its own way of expressing itself and I am grateful to be able to work in a variety of mediums to see these things realized . I ’ m often told , I should either paint full time or sculpt , but to me , both disciplines feed each other , so I could never choose one over the other .
What would you consider to be your “ dream project ”?
I ’ m planning to begin pursuing more public artworks in the near future . One of the projects I ’ d love to create would be a sculpture park and playground to inspire children to use their imaginations more . Another project I ’ d like to build would be a melted clock about 200 feet in size , hanging off a shear rock cliff on a mountain . I have a couple locations in mind .
ROCH FAUTCH
BORN INTO TRADITION
Is there a boundary in your mind between a “ trade ” and an “ artistic ” work ; or , do you approach everything artistically ?
I was trained from the beginning to think like an engineer , so to me it is all a form of problem solving , whether it ’ s figuring out how to paint a cloud or build some crazy large concrete installation . The only difference between an artist and engineer is that the engineer solves real life problems and the artists create their own . The “ trade ” is simply the skill and understanding of the material , ( whether roofing or concrete ) along with tools and techniques . How you apply that knowledge is where artistry comes in . As with most materials , it takes a solid understanding and respect for your material of choice to be able to push it to the level of artistry .
As a surrealist do you wish to portray specific messages in your work ?
I reason why I identify with surrealism is because of its exploration into the irrational realms of inner space , which I believe is where our own personal truths are found . Most of my work seems to revolve around themes about consciousness , time and the nature of reality , which I ’ ve pondered my entire life . In this day and age , with an overly programmed society where the media tells us what to think , how to act , and what to buy ; I prefer to do work that makes people think for themselves . Challenging the viewers to look at the deepest parts of them and perhaps inspire others to reach for higher truth .
22 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE