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