Solalex
Andre Benoit
As every artist knows you cannot escape the visual connectivity with creativity. Too often art is a singular experience. As a visitor and guest in such a beautiful country where visual stimulation is omnipresent, it is impolite to follow this pursuit. I have had the great fortune to break from solitude to be able to share creativity with my partner, my host, and to have the motivation to do so, arise simultaneously within the relationship.
Although my initial visit to Switzerland 10 years ago during the time I had just begun working with assemblage representation found myself looking for recyclable materials that I could continue working with at those times, my partner psychologist was engaged in her busy multifaceted profession. I quickly learned that the Swiss is every locale are much tidier than I am in my own staging area for my work that seems to invade the indoors and outdoors of my property. This force me to work with a few things I could find laying around that weren’t immediately disposed of that no longer had a purpose. Although they recycle in Switzerland, the populace does not go to those transfer sites looking to repurpose what has been discarded in those foreigners that might have that pension I strongly discourage from doing so. I found myself working with the cradling of wine, crates and pinecones. Surprisingly, some of these pieces actually were sold to foreign winter visitors in the village where I stay. The popularity of this type of work was short-lived even though I began bringing to Switzerland, choice pieces of found objects from Maine in my suitcase. That always caused eyebrows to rise when my carry-on suitcase was scrutinized by imaging my completed work, outpacing what I was able to sell, and I was advised not to be creating more of this work beginning to clutter my partner’s chalet. At this point, several years into my relationship, I found myself encouraging my partner to explore her artistic talents becoming aware that many of her older siblings had in their lifetime pursued artistic endeavors. She has shown a capacity to work with all mediums quite carefully so that we can share working behind easels together I have found myself returning to plein air painting with the weather permits us to be outside. When this is not possible, we work inside with conceptual ideas and reference to imaging.
 How do you incorporate elements of Switzerland’s landscape, architecture, or daily life into your artwork?
In Maine when painting I generally focus on Marine scapes, but in Switzerland, the grandeur of the mountains and vineyards command my interest and those are the paintings I favor, though I have done a number of still lifes of table settings and the food being eaten. The out of doors is where most Swiss residents prefer to exercise, and it is very much of an outdoor culture, all seasons of the year for all ages and there are endless places to visit for visual stimulation as an artist.
What advice would you give to other artists considering spending time abroad to enhance their artistic practice?
Paint, canvas, and brushes are much more expensive to buy in Switzerland than what is available online in the US so best to bring your own materials. I gesso lightweight waterproof plywood and bring it in my carry-on suitcase when I visit as I now have all the clothing I need in the closet over there and have no need to check a bag which only holds you up when you are alive waiting for it to arrive at the luggage kiosk.
Haute Corde, Solalex
Andre Benoit’s work is currently on display in our Freeport, Maine Showroom. The show, My Other Place: Maine Artists Exploring the World, runs from March 6, 2025 – June 1, 2025.
