Swuine (Monika), Interview with Joelle Jouneau

French internetmagazine Zone-61 (which on the internet isn't available anymore) in july 2013 published an interview by Monika Swuine with Joelle Jouneau, founder and president of the association "Les amis de l'oeuvre de l'Abbé Fouré".

In agreement with its author, this article is republished here, translated into english.

Pictures (except the old postcards) by Monika Swuine.

.Joëlle Jouneau

the good fairy of the Abbé Fouré

(interview by Monika Swuine)

Joëlle Jouneau, founder and president of the association Les amis de l'oeuvre de l'Abbé Fouré, is also author of a book entitled: ‘l'Ermite de Rothéneuf’. The Abbé Fouré (who died in 1910) and his sculptures nowadays are part of her life. Let’s go back on a wonderful adventure as well as the twists and turns of a combat that just begun, in favor of a heritage in danger.

Zone-61

Hello Joëlle, Could you tell us how you came into contact with the oeuvre of Abbé Fouré?

Joëlle Jouneau

In the autumn of 2005, facing the ups and downs of life, I left Mayenne, the region where I was born, for a new residence, Rothéneuf, the place where the Abbé Fouré a century earlier had arrived. For two years I have welcomed visitors who came to discover his sculpted rocks. I did not know about this remarkable site and I went to study all its details.

Zone-61

In what way has this creation touched you to the point that you founded your association? What are its goals and activities?

Joelle Jouneau

Emotion! Amazement! A unique work in a breathtaking decor!

Unfortunately, it was not possible to share the artistic richness and the humanity of the artist with our visitors, although we asked our former employers (note1) to do so. The lack of information about this artist hors normes and the continuing trampling of the sculptures were unbearable.

After a dismissal on economic grounds, I have promised the Hermit of Rotheneuf to take care of him.

Advised by the Regional Direction of Cultural Affairs (note 2), in the summer of 2010 I have founded an association that aims to make known the Abbé Fouré and his master piece, to pursue its recovery and the dissimination of information.

We began from scrap; the idea was to organize an exposition on the occasion of the centenary of his death in order to situate the Abbé Fouré again amidst Art Brut.

The Rochers Sculptés (sculpted rocks) may be known by the public, but this does not apply to their maker. Without any subsidy we went underway, with the intent to organize eight local and regional expositions.

Zone-61

So, over the years a private company has got patent on the acces to the sculpted rocks and through the years there was no possibility of free acces, untill your action based on application of the Loi Littoral (note 3). So nowadays the public can also access for free, from the beach by a secured path. It sure wasn’t easy to achieve..

Joëlle Jouneau

We act to save the site of the sculpted rocks. The road permits visitors to reach the shore and to discover for free this creation in the public maritime domain. Its opening is the result of hard labor, based upon the trust and the respect of our interlocutors.

Incidentally, this free visit has been stipulated by the DRAC .

At the same time we are active in recovering the truth, which for a hundred years has been violated, to the detriment of the oeuvre and the artist.

Zone-61

It seems nowadays there is a disturbing tendency among private enterprises to confiscate free acces to places with a strong touristic potential (such as for example the Mont Saint Michel). What is your opinion about the activity (or inactivity) in this regard of local communities or public authorities? What can be done?

Joëlle Jouneau

It is regrettable that some collectivities and public administrations show a lack of interest in exceptional heritage. If a creation is misunderstood, that gives no right to ignore it. These creators of art brut have bequeathed us exceptional testimonies; we should transfer to future generations.

Even if this creation, located in front of the elements, is short-lived, it is important to slow down its disappearance. It is not acceptable that this creation disappears in the midst of the greatest indifference.

Against all, Minister Malraux in 1969 has added Facteur Cheval's Palais Idéal (to the list of France's historical monuments). Today, the concerns of the day provide an excuse with regard to the Palais, that yearly attracts 130.000 visitors and assures economic development in this region.

If at the beginning of the years 1900 the inhabitants of Rothéneuf sent their children to damage the abbot's work, they ended this when the tourists began to fill their pockets.

A hundred years later, the situation is identical. If our association doesn t get the necessary support it should have, fewer and fewer tourists will come to watch a heap of stones. Many people regret this degradation.

Zone-61

Due to the lack of serious research, a lot of nonsense has been delivered about Abbé Fouré's life and work. In your book l'Ermite de Rothéneuf (note 4) you do away with quite a lot of these. What sources and what kind of help are at your disposal and how did you organize your research?

Joëlle Jouneau

An inspector of historical monuments from the Department of Culture has recommended writing the book. It's main goal is to understand and re-establish the truth. It was a long work of research... I wanted to start from zero, without taking into account what already was written, to uncover as good as possible the truth about the man, the priest, the artist and his work.

This book is precious in our approaches. Because of it, our interlocutors better understand the scope of this heritage and we hope they listen better to us. It also is a good medium to draw attention to it.

Scala, the publishing company, very oriented towards art brut, has liked to support our association financially..The city of Brest also has helped us financially, by donating the iconographic exposiition about Abbé Fouré in the context of (the manifestation) l'Art Brut à l'Ouest.

Zone-61

Your research has not yet been finished, I suppose. Are there any special things in the life and the artistic activities of Abbé Fouré you want to clear up? Do you have some tracks? Are there disappeared objects and documents you dream of finding back?

Joëlle Jouneau

We are doing a primary historic research, based upon the diocesan, municipal, departmental and national archives. The articles from the press of that time, numerous and amazing, have supplemented our research.of written sources.

We hope to continue this research of written sources by looking at other writings on a specific theme: the abbot brings us to distant horizons. We have to do a lot of research, especially with regard to his journey to England.

Our concern is the lack of resources: getting around in search of information requires a considerable budget.

After that, it's time....My dream is to find all personal documents of the abbot, so as to "enter into his life".

Then there is that riddle around his wooden sculptures: where have remained these companions of the abbot?

Tracks? This is beginning.... We first had to make it known that we exist. And prove us!

Zone-61

In addition to the text, your book is also a little gem because of its pictures. There are small treasures, notably in the postcards from his time. Do you own them yourself? Are they difficult to find? Did you ever consider a re-edition?

Joëlle Jouneau

It is fortunate we have these old postcards. One knows of 432 postcards, that's the last number determined by the collectors. Without these it would have been impossible to save the artistic quality of this creator.

I myself have a collection of the most important cards. One can buy them in second-hand stores, at flea markets or specialized websites.

Our book makes it possible to take note of some interesting appearences.

In the future we will see what we can offer our visitors. We have a lot of ideas.

Zone-61

The state of the sculpted rocks is very worrying. What do you hope to be able to do to prevent further decay, as will happen inexorably? At what point are you in this fight?

Joelle Jouneau

The alarming state, as stipulated by the DRAC in its report of 2009, is still valid, four years later. People continu walking over the sculptures and there is no convenient maintenance to protect them... The visitors of our expositions are outraged by the degradation of the site.

In follow up to works realised on behalf of the departmental council, we ask visitors to use the acces that is made to watch the creation from the beach: The scene of the ensemble is much more talking, it is more respectful vis-à-vis the sculptures and it helps to slow down their disappearance.

Our efforts for the preservation of the site are always of actuality and accepted by experts of art brut. Laurent Danchin, art critic and curator of expositions, supports our point of view that Abbé Fouré should be respected, as he says in his speeches about art brut.

The latest is Alain Boulet, from the Universities of Paris and Montpellier, who came to St Malo to explain why the master piece of the Abbé Fouré is important in art brut.

Zone-61

What are the next steps of your association?

Joëlle Jouneau

We will continue our journey to take the Abbé Fouré to other horizons, give him a national scope before leading him to the ultimate consecration: the art brut collection in Lausanne.

We would like to develop activities for schools and continue our approach of homes for the elderly. With the film l'Homme de Granit (note 5) we offer the residents a moment of escape.

This is our way to continue the Abbé Fouré's activities: he spent time and labor for the poor. He distributed the donations collected in the gift boxes at the Hermitage and amidst the sculptures, amongst those who needed this most.

Zone-61

Finally, what would you say?

Joëlle Jouneau

That the inhabitants of St Malo awake before it is too late. They have a creation that is unique in the world and they are in process letting it go.

Finally, I would like to thank all who in one way or the other participate, or have participated actively to preserve the memory of Abbé Fouré, in particular the members of the association who are available to realise exhibitions. I also underline their creativity at every change of location.

Thanks also to Abbé Fouré for all beautiful encounters with his master piece and all moments of sharing it.

added to OEE-texts sept 2013

notes

1 the private enterprise that nowadays exploits the site named "Rochers sculptés" (registered trademark)

2 DRAC = direction régionale des affaires culturelles

3 the Loi Littoral is a french law from 1986, regulating the use of the coast, especially protecting it from excessive speculation in housing, and permitting free access to the public on coastal paths

4 this book can be ordered at Libraire la Procure

5 l'Homme de Granit (the man of granite) is a movie made in 2002 by Frédéric Daudier and Oliver Gouix (Arcanea productions)