Maria PIETRI

Born in France, Lives in Vanuatu.
After 25 years in the USA where she practiced watercolor, acrylic, oil painting, engraving, and all sorts of multi media, I moved to Vanuatu where she continues to research and paint. "I am mainly a colorist, colors call me, I am fascinated by them. In Vanuatu, I find inspiration in many ways, People, Nature, Culture, the Sea and its fabulous world." She dives often and takes photographs or makes sketches and translates all these different elements in her own personal ways. "I am self taught and wish to maintain myself outside of any kind of artistic movement" she says. Her admiration for the arts of Vanuatu and Melanesia is very important, she outlines the "sincerity" of the artists. "The Art in Vanuatu is very direct, straight forward, and reflects admirably its environment and culture". "Artists here are often opened to a new vision and new techniques and styles but the weight of the traditional customs and the economical barriers (the price of all art and crafts material is very highly taxed at import) makes it difficult for them. But I am sure these limitations can be overcomed because people can not muzzle an artist for too long. "