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Les
Bourguignons de Coeur
Special people and their love
affairs with Burgundy
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Michel PERNÈS
Burgundy has had an indelible impact
on both the life and the painting of local artist Michel Pernès. Born in
Burgundy in 1943, he went to art school in Chalon-sur-Saône, and today Burgundy
inspires his evocative and light-filled paintings.
When you are in Beaune, don't forget to make
a trip to his gallery and admire his latest creations.
Gallerie Michel PERNÈS
19 Rue Monge
Place
de la Halle
21200 Beaune
Tel: 03 80 24 92 67
Fax: 03 80 21 84 25
http://www.pernes.com
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1. What was your first contact
with Burgundy and why do you love living here?
Michel:
My first contact with Burgundy was on the 18th of
December, 1943, the day of my birth in the department of the Nièvre in
Burgundy. After a vagabond childhood with time spent in Narcy, Compiègne,
Saint-Cloud, St. Germain-en-Laye, La Garenne Colombe, when I was 14
years old Burgundy welcomed me back with a move to Chalon-sur-Saône.
 2.
How does Burgundy inspire your painting?
Michel:
Very quickly I had the desire to discover the region
where I was born. With this aim, I traipsed around Le Morvan, La Bresse,
the wine coast…With my sketchpad in hand I drew and painted these
landscapes with a myriad of faces. En somme, le voyage à portée
de jambes .
I think that rather than saying I live in Burgundy, it
is in fact more accurate to say that Burgundy lives in me. Burgundy
isn’t a static region, but a panaché of diverse regions. It gives me
colours, movement, architecture, and joie de vivre.
3. What is your favourite
village or town? Why?
Michel:
It is very difficult to pick a favorite village; it is
precisely its diversity which gives Burgundy its special ability to be a
place where we lose ourselves in order to find ourselves again.
4. What is your favourite
Burgundian dish?
Michel:
As far as culinary things go, les oeufs en meurette
(eggs in red wine sauce) is one of the traditional dishes that I keenly
appreciate, and that also goes for the multitude of other dishes and
sauces made from local wines.
5. What is your favourite
Burgundian wine?
Michel:
To accompany all of this wonderful food, each wine has
its place: Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Chablis, Mercurey, Cléssé,
etc…a wonderful time spent at the table systematically has a way of
opening up my imagination and giving me the irresistible desire to
explore the unknown pathways of Burgundy - my home.
6. What is your favorite
activity in Burgundy?
Michel:
If I could only recommend one activity to the visitors,
it would be walking through Burgundy’s wonderful countryside and
enjoying its abundant nature.
7. What is your best memory
of Burgundy?
Michel:
The best memories I have of Burgundy are when I lose
myself in a local village, sketchpad or easel in hand.
8. How would you describe the
Burgundian “caractère”?
Michel:
Burgundy is like a woman who never reveals all her
facets at the same time, and a Bourguignon will know how to give you the best
of himself by winning your trust – he is a colourful and convivial
character.
9. What is it that you treasure
most about daily life in Burgundy, and where is your favourite
place to watch the sun set over Burgundy?
Michel:
A path which smells of earth, woods that smell of moss, a
creek that bubbles before our eyes, a countryside like the one in Bresse
that gives you exceptional sunsets, that is the lung which allows me to
breathe.
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