Incubus’ Choice: Close-up on Olivier De Rycke

What message(s) do you want to express through your work?

Since about two years now, I have been specialised in nude art. Although the female body and soul are highlighted here, I would like to go beyond it to get closer to the portrait. A nude portrait, as we could say. This is why the title of my first book published at Ragage editions is My Body My Soul! The model has to give me a bit of herself, a feeling, more than the mere sight of her body anyway. Body and soul are linked. I know that a photography will never unveil the intimate personality of a person, but it can convey a feeling and that feeling comes from the soul.

Which artists inspire you? Who are your masters?

I admire many artists. I still have a keen interest in finding beautiful pictures. Their author can be professional or amateur, it has no significance if the picture is beautiful. The internet is for it an unlimited source of discoveries. All the same, I can cite some renowned photographers, like Jean Loup Sieff, Sarah Moon, Bettina Rheims, and Andreas H. Bitesnich, and others like Désirée Dolron and Christian Coigny who are among my preferred ones.

What have you gained by being on the internet?

To be quickly known, I guess. This is a great business card. But this is not an end in itself. Publishing a book or exhibiting gives much more satisfaction and enables to be closer to the audience.

Did the internet enable you to meet new models, to find new exhibit places?

That is for sure, I regularly receive applications from models. My website enables them to get an idea of my work and if they like it, they contact me to apply. The internet is for that an very appreciable tool. And this is also true for the model. To get an idea of her value, this is very handy to visit her site, to see her photos, to get an opinion and even to see her potential.

Has your work ever been censored? If so, how did you deal with it?

No (as far as I know). I have only had positive feedbacks up to now. Maybe this is only because I am not yet renowned? But I rather think this is due to the softness of my work which enables it to go well. Anyway, an artwork is hardly universal. My work finds its own audience, and this is the main point. If it is censored, it tells it is not on the right network. But there is a lot of hypocrisy around nude art. This topic feeds the discussions and I will not say again what has been said by so many others. Simply said, feeling well in our own body is feeling well in our mind, and reversely. Nude art is the epitome of art, if that subject would be banished, we would have to close down the Louvres.

What projects mean a lot to you at the moment?

As I have said above, I am specialised in nude photography since only two years. I am still a beginner in a way. My project is to go further in my work. My first book has just been published: I am now looking for exhibiting.

Could you tell us a few words about the place you live/work in?

I live in Chantilly (France), but I mainly work in Czech Republic, Majorca, and Latvia. I prefer working in other places than studios, as I like to play with the settings to compose my pictures. I also work a lot in natural light, I do with what is at hand. The studio will be when I will have mine, as the notion of setting is very important for me and my ideas will only be realized in my studio. They need time and this is what I am always short with during production!

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