Michelle Villemin " Abby ", the day before his 20 years, Michelle leaves his country to join her husband in Polynesia. It was to remain two years there but the stay is still prolonged, almost forty years of life on the territory. It knows well a little Polynesia by works of Paul Gauguin, Lejeune, Marescot, Goupil, Lebreton, Giraud, Radiguet Its great-aunt also offered the marriage to him of Parcelled out which moved it much. Nevertheless the shock is important. It is dazzled. such an amount of light, so much beauty! The landscapes, the ocean, the scenes of the Polynesian life, the kindness and the grace of the inhabitants, especially of the children challenge it. How to translate these so particular glances, if expressive? it has only little technique, just a certain skill perhaps? A good blow of pencil says one in the entourage. All is to be learned. The chance will make the things well, as it is often the case. Walking in PAPEETE, it discovers the workshop of Rui Juventin, practically the only Polynsien artist living of his art at the time. The academy does not exist and will be created later. It is the town hall which places a room at the disposal of Rui. This artist having in heart to transmit his culture to the children opens his space to them Wednesdays and Saturdays afternoon, preserving the other days for the adults. Michelle will attend the places and it is near this man that it will find councils and encouragements. Beginning of the beautiful pictorial adventure. It tests various techniques of painting and gradually, according to the request, people appreciating his work, it specializes in the portrait. It works especially on order, while dealing with its small family, sometimes helping Michel and Shirley with the Winkler gallery. The years pass. it carries on its small way discreetly, takes part in the collective exposures at the time of the festivals of July (will tiurai) inter alia. Two expos in solo: December 1984 and November 2003 will meet a good success. One of its works is chosen by the office of the posts and telecommunications (OPT) of Tahiti in 1994 for the emission of a stamp, on the topics of the painters in Polynesia. In 2005 upheaval in its personal and professional life. It takes stock of the years spent, is called in question. Change of signature. Michelle Villemin becomes ABBY, thus thinking of finding itself more deeply. New identity which does not owe anything randomly this time. What will become the work of Abby? Only the future will say it to us.
To contact me: mailto:MichelleV@mail.pf