François Val
9 APRIL 2025
An artist and photographer from Paris, now based in Clermont-Ferrand. After many years of studying, teaching, and practicing photography, he retired and now explores experimental ways of expressing his ideas
An artist and photographer from Paris, now based in Clermont-Ferrand. After many years of studying, teaching, and practicing photography, he retired and now explores experimental ways of expressing his ideas
The Trojan War has had a great influence on me—after all, they were deceived by the horse. Some of my works reflect historical moments. Stealth and illusion play a role in my pieces created with octopus ink, a material chosen for its connection to camouflage. What do we take to construct our world?
What themes and ideas can be seen in your work?
I like using octopus ink—it inspires me. I also incorporate leaves from special trees, paper, textiles, and sometimes stencils. Some of my works are made from maps, such as a piece based on a map of Crete.
What materials do you use for painting?
Tell us about your professional journey
Eventually, I returned to Clermont to work as an art professor in a high school. Alongside teaching, I dedicated many years to practicing photography. Since retiring, I have turned to painting as an experimental way to express my ideas.
I was born in Paris, but after some time, my parents returned to Montluçon, in Allier, where they are originally from. I studied there for my bachelor’s degree before moving to Clermont to study fine arts. Later, I went to Paris to explore the mechanics of games—cards, board games, toys, and more.
Tell us about yourself
Tissage, 2022
Back in the day, Michelin was everywhere, practically a monopoly—there were Michelin-branded shops, even Michelin-run clinics. Today, things have improved. The company now invests in Clermont’s cultural life, aiming to attract high-level professionals such as engineers.
How would you describe the portrait of the city today?
When I arrived in 1975, there was no contemporary art scene here. It was a city stuck in tradition, almost asleep. Since the Industrial Revolution, Clermont has been known as a workers' city, dominated by Michelin, with little focus on culture.
What was Clermont like in the past?
In the Middle Ages, there was an art school in Clermont-Ferrand where students worked for the king, crafting stained glass, wooden furniture, and carpets. At the same time, ceramics from China were traded through Amsterdam before arriving here.
Can you tell us an old story about Clermont-Ferrand?
I don’t see myself as a creator—I simply present an alternative perspective, drawing attention to objects, natural processes, and their connection to human actions. In some of my symmetrical works, one might see either a tree or an atomic bomb—it depends on the viewer.
How do you see your artistic practice?
— What do we take to construct our world?
Tissage carte Croisic
Locals should welcome newcomers with a "Bonjour" and a "Bienvenue." We shouldn’t be afraid of strangers, and the art community should be more open—after all, people don’t come here just for the landscapes. Cultural life here might feel a bit isolated, so it’s important to travel, explore, and learn from the world.
What advice would you give to newcomers and the next generation?
Rue des Gras, Place du Terrail, and the Centre for Photography at Hôtel Fontfreyde, which invites people to capture different perspectives of the city. In the 1990s, there was a bus stop near the Maison de la Culture—now it is home to the La Comédie theater. And, of course, the flea market.
What are your favourite places in Clermont?
For centuries, Clermont-Ferrand's population has been modest, not outwardly displaying prestige. Demonstrating wealth was never a priority, which is one reason why the cathedral is black rather than white. For example, the entrance to the opera house on Place Jaude is not at the front but on a small side street.
What is your take on the city’s style of representation?
3. Arbre, 2020.
2. Poulpe, 2021.
- Tissage, 2023.
