ENGLISH TEXTS
IN THE EYE OF
SATORU MIURA
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By Olivier Villepreux
the Japanese painter of French racecourses Satoru Miura is savoring a glass of Côtes du Rhône at the cosmopolitan wine bar in Paris ’ s 12 th arrondissement , Le Baron Rouge . The artist is casually displaying some of his small-format works there , either finished or in progress . All of them depict scenes from French racecourses . Entirely monomaniacal , he explains : “ What interests me is that French racecourses offer a great variety of landscapes . They allow for different perspectives . In Japan , all the racecourses are similar , and the tracks are completely flat . There are no NH races for instance . Saint-Cloud offers multiple tracks . it ’ s never the same . Above all , once I ’ m there , I can bet on the races .” Or even be friend with jockeys . Satoru Miura was born in 1946 in Makabe , about 70 kilometers northeast of Tokyo . An admirer of Raoul Dufy and Edgar Degas , he , like many of his fellow citizens , is fascinated by the Impressionists . He developed a passion early on for figurative painting , especially of horses and French landscapes . “ When I was younger , I told myself : ‘ If I want to become a painter , I need to live in the city of painting .’” So , he moved to Paris with his wife , who provided for their income while he spent his days at the racecourses . And when he won at the track , he would take her out to a restaurant . Upon his arrival in 1970 , he met his mentor , Maurice Brianchon , whose influence he considers decisive . From then on , his deceptively naive paintings sold well in Japan , reinforcing his belief that his sole subject , the racecourse , would become his signature . His ever-renewed sense of wonder , he says , comes from the atmosphere of the race meetings and the changing seasons , which continually alter his perception of the venues .
Contact Satoru Miura : max . ebisusama @ gmail . com
EDITO
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ADRENALINE IN SPORT
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Adrenaline . That hormone that speeds up the heart rate , raises blood pressure and expands the airways . It is released whenever the body is exposed to stress , danger , excitement , or intense effort . In the world of sports , it elevates both the athlete in their quest for performance and the spectator immersed in the thrill of the moment . “ Sports aren ’ t just about winning or losing . It ’ s that rush of adrenaline , that thrill that makes you feel alive ,” says Michael Jordan . Usain Bolt describes it as follows : “ What I feel on the field is indescribable — an explosion of adrenaline , a mix of fear and excitement , an energy that takes me beyond myself .” And even from the stands , adrenaline delivers a powerful sensation : “ There ’ s something magical about sports . Even as a spectator , you feel the adrenaline as if you were on the field ,” notes Pep Guardiola . Roger Federer adds , “ A stadium in full swing is like a beating heart in unison . Adrenaline is everywhere , and emotion becomes collective .” Words can sometimes fall short when trying to describe this raw intensity , so vivid and addictive , that sports provide . Horse racing embodies this adrenaline rush perfectly , paired with the deep passion for horses that is at the very core of Galorama . The thrill begins at birth and extends through every stage of a horse ’ s journey - breeding , auctions , breaking-in , pre-training , training , racing and post-career . This same intensity resonates with elite athletes , whether still com-
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