“We are schizophrenics” … The enigmatic War questions our relationship with animals

We tell you straight away, we haven’t seen him without his mask. Neither do the gallery managers who welcome him. “He has his own key. He comes to work at night, we never meet him, ”slips Laurence Briand, the manager of the Albert-Bourgeois art gallery in Fougères (Ille-et-Vilaine). For about ten days, the former convent built in the 17th century has housed an artist as well known as he is anonymous. Like the famous Banksy or Daft Punk, the
Rennes street-artist War has chosen not to reveal his true identity.

On this sunny September morning, the man therefore received us covered with his usual black scarf and aviator glasses. We won’t see his eyes or an inch of his skin. Only a figure and a calm, calm voice with a rather serious tone. “Anonymity, I got hold of it when I started street art. At the time, we weren’t really well regarded so I learned to hide, ”says War, who borrowed his name from a Bob Marley song.

“Anonymity gives me more freedom”

Twenty years later, the one who was born “in the 1980s” has still not lifted the veil on his identity. “I sometimes asked myself the question. But anonymity gives me more peace and freedom. It’s also an artistic choice, it allows me to change my skin, to stimulate people’s imaginations ”. Since arriving in Rennes in 2010, War has quickly made a name for himself in his adopted city by painting monumental animals there. Fish, meerkats, a kingfisher or poppies so beautiful that no one dared to cover them.

In Rennes, the animals of the street artist War are numerous and well known to the inhabitants. – C. Allain / 20 Minutes

Used to pole painting in the street, the street artist has started working indoors in recent years, even accepting invitations from a few galleries. Until December 4, it will be exhibited in the superb setting of the Albert-Bourgeois art gallery in Fougères. Called “Anima (l)”, this event marks a turning point in the artist’s career. No, War hasn’t stopped painting animals. But behind the acrylic lines, the man hardened his message.

“I conducted a reflection on the relationship between humans and animals, on our relationship of domination over other species through hunting, breeding, the reduction of natural spaces”, slips the artist from Rennes. It was engaged readings that prompted War to adopt a more militant message. “When I started out, I didn’t have that thinking. I painted animals because it was poetic in the concrete of the city. But I realize that we close our eyes to a lot of things. ” He pursues :

“Animals, everyone finds them beautiful and loves them, but we continue to eat them. In France, you can be sentenced for mistreatment of your dog or cat. But pigs or chickens continue to be mistreated all their lives until they are slaughtered. We are schizophrenics. “

In the art gallery, the man continues to exhibit his particular brush stroke to shape an elephant, a rhino, a whale or monkeys. But he does not fail to question the visitor, in particular with this message “I love animals” made with cutlery and a plate found at Emmaüs. Or with these bullet-riddled traffic signs denouncing the practice of hunting. “I wanted to talk about it,” he slips soberly.

Well known in the west of France where his works are most visible, War now has the ambition to tackle an even denser jungle and should exhibit in Paris next year. The animal that he is intends to extend his territory. But without cannibalizing it.


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