JAABI was born in Europe. Raised in Caribbeans, Africa and France, Origins from Africa, America, India, Europe and Asia. Child of a family of nine brothers and sisters from different houses & showing interest for Arts through music during young age. His mother's house hosted several music instruments from different parts of the world, she gave him ghis first guitar and displayed his first chords. He will keep on going self-taught on this instrument, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley providing his musical inspiration as well as Miles Davis among many others.
Despite much interest for civilisations and philosophies, the modern life style in urban surroundings was not necessarily a good long term experience for a mixed-blood junior of his kind in the European community. Leaving for the south Pacific, age 33, having already travelled through Africa, Europe, India, and Asia, Amazon and Caraïb. The islands, the light and above all the feeling of the Nature. Something REAL. "I was musician till I came to the Pacific then I turned into a painter by the will of Nature. . ." Spent a few years in the light of a tiny sandy islet, alone in a coconut leaves hut planted in the middle of the magnificent scenery of the two islands of Huahine and discovering the amazing art of Huahine painter Bobby Holcomb . Improving on these little sands the technique of oils on canvas . |
This is where the villagers come one day asking to decorate their ‘UO, a giant custom kite that would be showcased to 1996 Samoa Arts festival.
“I just had not enough paint to cover that surface so I thought of using SOIL… And it just worked out! Our Human heritage forever living through the ages before besides and beyond us" Using the Tapa is a dedication to authehticity in the nature concern, leading naturally to Fiji islands learning how to make the bark cloth.... Year 2000 and the millennium celebrations is the launch of what is gonna be a ten years exhibitions touring around the South Pacific Islands and more : getting the Earth Paintings on Tapa known and recognized. “Going backwards from technique is like going further in Arts. There is no secret, no tabu in transmitting, it is a very basic recipe closer from feeling than knowledge". . . more . . . It should be fair to mention the contribution of all the relations and friends taking part to that ARTVENTURE with their support and confidence. Let their names find grace in the heart of Mother Nature, she knows best. Among those I have to mention my Fijian friend artist-painter the late Josie Crick who helped me so much in finding my way in Fiji and the Grand Pacific; and my friend Dorothy Levy who did so in Huahine island. |
" Painting with Earth is like Telling a Story from the Begining "
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EXHIBITIONS
Water colours on paper: Castel Jahaté, Gorée Island -Senegal-february 1993 Gallery Avalon, Formentera -Baléares Islands- june 1993 Oil on canvas: Gallery Te Mana -Huahine- april 1994 Gallery Te Mana -Huahine- april 1995 Earth paintings on Tapa: Fare Potee Maeva -Huahine- may 1997 Millennium Park, Taveuni -Fiji Islands- january 2000 Alliance Francaise de Suva -Fiji Islands- january 2000 Gallery Au Chevalet, Papeete-Tahiti- april 2000 Assembly of Polynesia, Papeete-Tahiti- july 2000 South Pacific Festival of Arts -New Caledonia- november 2000 Alliance Francaise de Suva -Fiji Islands- march 2001 Leleuvia Island -Fiji Islands- july 2001 French Embassy, Port-Vila -Vanuatu- august 2001 Electron Libre, Paris -France- june 2002 La Mola, Formentera -Baleares Islands- july 2002 Melanesian Arts Festival, Port-Vila -Vanuatu- august 2002 National Art Exhibition, Suva -Fiji Islands- october 2002 Alliance Francaise de Suva -Fiji Islands- january 2003 Gallery Olivier Creation, Papeete -Tahiti- june 2003 French Embassy, Port-Vila -Vanuatu- december 2003 Gallery Mama Peni, Fare -Huahine- may 2004 Hawaiki Nui, Fare -Huahine- october 2004 Alliance Francaise de Suva -Fiji Islands- march 2005 |
Gallery Mama Peni, Fare -Huahine- june 2005 Hotel Tenape, Uturoa -Raiatea- january 2006 Leleuvia Island, Fiji Islands-september 2006 Melanesian Festival of Arts, Suva -Fiji Islands- october 2006 Chapelle Saint-Pierre, Roquebrune-sur-Argens -France- june 2007 Quartier des Arts Saint-Julien, Uzès -France- july 2007 Maison Royale de Tanna, Saint-Laurent du Var -France- july 2007 Cloître de la Cathédrale de Fréjus -France- september 2007 Leleuvia Island -Fiji Islands- april 2008 Leleuvia Island - Fiji Islands- april 2009
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