Maze: Hi RooArty, thanks so much for your time today! We've known each other for thirteen years; you taught me a lot about artistic expression, and I am excited for our readers to know more about your artistic vision.
RooArty is a "collage" of "rooar" (roar) and "arty." "Arty" for art, obviously, and "rooar" (roar) in reference to my moon sign Leo, which is very important to me when it comes to relationships and emotional communication. I would also like to clarify that Marie Neval is not my real name. I chose Marie because it is one of my first names, but for Neval, I have no idea.
Maze: Are there any diagnoses of neurodivergence you would like to share with us today? And how do they influence your view of the world in general and your artistic work in particular?
RooArty: My predominant diagnoses are bipolar disorder, ADHD, and HPE (Haut Potentiel Émotionnel in French, High Emotional Intelligence), which enables me to better understand my emotions and those of others, but also leaves me feeling out of sync with them. I also have dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia (especially when choosing the right words), and dyscalculia.
Understanding non-verbal messages, tree-like thinking, difficulties with certain social situations, crowds, noise... everything influences my state. It's not uncommon for me to shout words unintentionally just because they're too ingrained in my head.
Whether in my professional life or life in general, I have to minimize distractions to focus on something. This is because I feel everything very strongly. The energies of people, nature, light, the atmosphere, everything is present. My brain takes everything into account. Everything that touches me invades me, noises like silences... everything is linked like a network in my head. It's powerful and exhausting. There are overwhelming feelings that I need to externalize in my own way.
Sometimes my collages seem to disappear behind a screen, sometimes, they are bright, and my ideas are all over the place. It seems like everything is blocked and exploding simultaneously. I am caught up in energies that take me towards an intuitive and unfiltered creation; I act impulsively, and I can create dozens of collages day and night.
You could say it's my passionate side, but there's something rash about passion. In my case, it's really about wanting to let my thoughts live without lacking judgment or discernment. For me, the important thing in art is not to please others or to make something pretty. Like a tattoo, you do it because it tells your story; you do it for yourself.
For example, if someone tells me I am not listening to them, it might be because I listen to their interior, their insecurities, and their unspoken words, and they affect me more than words. Humans are rich in diversity, whether it's in their neurons or melanocytes, and each must be free to express his own standards as he sees fit.
There was a time when some netizens took certain collages as personal attacks because they didn't fit into their typical good or bad standards. After that, I decided to write neurodivergent in the description as if to tell visitors, "I warn you, my brain is not necessarily like yours; just deal with it."
Maze: You presented your works (paintings and collages on canvas) at Parisian art markets and galleries. What was your artistic journey before doing all that?
RooArty: I went to the School of Visual Communication in Paris and the Beaux-Arts in Lyon. So I tried several artistic expression techniques, from nude sketches to films or offset prints.
Maze: How did you choose digital collage after practicing painting and collages on canvas?
RooArty: Reproducing something that already exists, trying to make it as similar as possible to what is in front of me, does not interest me. In painting, I make a lot of abstracts. When I create collages, I enjoy mixing abstract and figurative elements to enrich what I feel. When I drew nudes, I was fascinated by the movement of the body while the person remained motionless. Every shape seemed to want more than to be in 3D space, whether near or far, flat or hollow... My goal is not to shock but to take into account realities (or unrealities) that are often put aside because they are not tangible while we feel them. I think of this beautiful woman in the park. I see her dress floating in the wind. How can I express or portray that?
A photo does not show how I feel. I will create an image, for example, of a duck who is in prison because ducks make me think of the park. The prison will be my state of mind facing the fear of talking to her, there will surely be a unicorn throwing up rainbows in a corner just because there's nothing sad in the end, and bringing lightness to the feeling of imprisonment that is just a state of mind you can let go of.
Maze: Do you still paint on canvas?
RooArty: I had the opportunity to paint again, and I did. I added phosphorescent pigments to the paint. The nocturnal rendering is very interesting because, at nightfall, the drawing changes. And then I stopped again. I'm bipolar, and I know I will paint again occasionally, but collage is more expressive for me. What I lacked was the physical relationship to matter. When I try to relay a tactile or carnal sensation through collage, I find it in the process.
Maze: What are the main themes of your collages?
RooArty: I create according to my inspirations, which often incorporate the theme of the relationship to oneself and to others. I am fascinated by the link between the physical and non-physical, by the impact of emotions on the body and vice versa, my love stories or those of others. It's like a diary in which I slip "fakes" to keep my privacy. My brain takes
everything into account. Everything that touches me invades me, noises like silences... everything is linked like a network in my head. It's powerful and exhausting. There are overwhelming feelings that I need to externalize in my way.
Maze: Can you tell us one of those stories by sharing with us your favorite collage and telling us about what it means to you?
RooArty: I can reveal the meaning of some, but not all. This image represents why I sometimes create very passionate collages. The woman on the left symbolizes the fish (bubbles, red) but appears to be holding back from expressing all her passion. In the middle, there is someone who seems embarrassed. He rejects the fighting fish with its lively movements and vibrant red, which disturbs him, even though it's just being true to itself. Additionally, the fact that he is a fighter reminds me of my own inner struggles.
Maze: Thank you for sharing the meaning of that vibrant piece! I wonder, how do you work? What is your creative process? Where do your ideas come from?
RooArty: I usually create in the evening, once the day is over. I work with images that speak to me. I consider what they represent, as well as their colors, light, textures, and everything. Details are like pieces of ideas. While there are times when two images are simply incredible and must be combined, I also prefer diverting the primary meaning of the visual rather than simply combining two different images in a single image.
Maze: How has your practice evolved over time?
RooArty: I work with Gimp, Procreate, and Light X in general, and sometimes I mix other media. At first, I didn't know how to use software to create. I couldn't express what I wanted. Over time, I learned not only to use them but to understand what I do with them and what impact they can have on others and myself. I dream of having enough money to work on my collages on a large computer screen. Currently, I work on a MacBook Pro or iPad.
Maze: What advice would you give to your younger self?
RooArty: Trust yourself.
Maze: Very powerful… Would you like to say something to our audience?
RooArty: I invite them to consider what is invisible, to accept their emotions, whatever they are, and to share whatever they want with me.
Maze: How can people contact you to buy your work?
RooArty: You can contact me on Instagram by DM. For the moment, I have stopped comments and likes so that the exchanges are more consistent. I also have my work available on Artgrab (not all pieces are listed there). Feel free to send me a direct message (DM) if you're interested in any particular artwork, and we can discuss the price. Currently, the prices range from around $50 to $100 dollars.