Emeric Davies

A New Renaissance Man, a Prince for Peace and Humanity

Emeric Davies was born in a «most beautiful place in the world», the «Realm of the Free». Since early childhood, he has developed an extremely curious mind. He used to ask his mother so many difficult, metaphysical questions (about the origin and function of the stars, the sun, the moon, God, the sea, natural phenomena ...) that she would sometimes smile and answer: «You will know when you start going to school!». He has since blended practical study and observation of nature and science which is sometimes reflected in his creative art and research

No wonder he has taken interest in many disciplines, encouraged by his large family of artists and intellectuals, notably his father, Thomas E. Davies, a Marine Engineer and classical musician (piano, organ) and his mother, (Mrs) Hannah S. Davies, an artist and designer (specialist in tapestry on canvas, and for some time, business woman). Davies is not only a complete professional artist but also a French, Language, literature and philosophy and history teacher; a researcher in Art history and aesthetics, a translator and interpreter (especially for Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations), actor, poet, writer, journalist, photographer, cartoonist, designer and illustrator (including for the United Nations Organization)... His interests have no pre-established boundaries. As he says in one of his (French) poems:


	«I am, in spite of myself, a citizen of the Universe My identity is neither my name, nor my clothes nor necessarily the language of my mother or the land of my birth It is the whole of my mind, all of my being and my culture all my past and my present My present, which was the future of my ancestors my future, unknown to man Like yours, dear unknown cousin. My culture is not a badge that one fastens to a garment like a Nazi emblem.»
		Emeric Davies, Citizen of the Universe (Extract)..

Early Beginnings

At five years old, Emeric Davies probably discovered his talent for art, when he drew a beautiful tree (for classwork), using color pencils on paper, that earned him the admiration of his teacher. Interestingly, he was, in his primary school years, known more for his beautiful voice than for his artistic talent. At home, he would sing for hours. Being first in his class and considered as an extraordinary child, he was given double promotion and found himself among big boys some of whom felt humiliated by him while most liked him for his jovial character and his great wit and sense of humor.


	Emeric Davies, Invention, one of the first works he created at the age of 14. He invented this multipurpose vehicle for the universe, a theme dear to the artist

In secondary school (The famous Prince of Wales School), he explored both academic and artistic qualities. He enjoyed acting, especially in French. Apart from pure academic classes, he also learned woodwork, and later, fine art. Between twelve and fourteen years of age, Emeric Davies became more conscious that people liked and admired his works. At fifteen, he made a striking, unexpected portrait of his father, titled «Father of Children», written vertically in calligraphy. He later made a portrait of his mother too. Although hundreds of his early works ended up being damaged, destroyed or stolen, he persevered. At sixteen, he had reached such a level in art that he was invited by his art teachers to join them to paint the giant background on canvas for the school theatre and stage, a rare privilege. Two years later, a distinction in Fine Art and School prizes for outstanding performance encouraged him to continue Fine Art while pursuing higher studies in other disciplines.

Development

Long before Mandela’s release from prison, he made a series of paintings with the «colors of the rainbow and sun rays», inspired by the fact that the world depends on the colorful sun, and suggesting its ramifications and significance. His works may be found in all continents. Emeric Davies has taken part in many collective art exhibitions (Bicentenary


	Emeric Davies, Self Portrait (Youth)

Anniversary of the French Revolution, Galerie Bernanos, Paris, Triennials of World Engravings, Chamalières; Asian Biennial (Guest Artist); International Print Biennial, Versailles, France; Exhibition of Artists and Sculptors of the 15th District of Paris...) as well as personal exhibitions, especially in Paris (Galerie Bernanos, Paris 5th; WICE Art Space, Paris; Centre Simone Signoret, Ecouen, Ile de France; the famous Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, University of Yaounde, Cameroon, Artists for Humanity, South Africa under the Grand Chief patronage of Nelson Mandela, to name but a few. During his research trips and exhibitions, this polyglot usually surprises his interlocutors by exchanging greetings and more with them in their languages. «If you surprise and even disagree with your friends and adversaries with respect and love, then peace reigns», he says». For Emeric Davies, empirical knowledge and exchange are very important. Yet he has studied in not less than seven prestigious universities and Advanced Schools, including the University of Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne) and the National School of Fine Art (Paris). Emeric Davies is a First Class scholar, who does not always like to be in the limelight, in spite of his talents.

Originality, perpetual reconstruction

At the National School of Fine Art in Paris, Professor Zavarro, in a crowded class at the school, appreciated the works of Emeric Davies, saying: «I have nothing to teach you; it is great!» Emeric Davies’s Art works are original, diversified and profound, with forms, images, metaphors showing his extraordinary imagination, presenting profound ideas at a higher level. The materials, texture, choice of color, details, finesse, presentation, characters, all speak the language of art. Music and rhythm are important because human beings are, for him, living musical instruments who are obliged to play, pivot, to the tunes


	Still life in Rhythm

of nature and existence in diverse roles, cultures and situations, while they remain one human race, as «no one has been able to seriously prove that there are distinct human «races». The important thing is peace and harmony, because «tomorrow may never come»,


	Emeric Davies, Les Danseurs de la lumière éternelle


	Emeric Davies, Musical Couple I

he writes. In such differences and diversity, questions about the meaning of ourselves and our life in nature are posed. His leaf technique reminds us of the similarity between marks in our palms and skins and leaf veins, as if to remind us that without plants, humans cannot live. His needle and knife technique reminds us of the same instruments of danger, playing the role of repair and good. The needle repairs the marks of wear and tear of the past. The various texture effects that Emeric Davies has created over many years have influenced many artists. He manufactures his paint himself, using pure pigments and objects in everyday life, to remind us of the universal and the particular. He also uses kitchen ingredients: olive oil, pepper, eggs, lecithin from soya beans; fruits...and many more that remind us that we are, among other things, what we eat; materials, that give rare effects, in different original styles based on form and content, like in literature. He thinks that an artist is particularly successful when specialists or non-specialists, men, women, children, end up understanding the message or the important point(s) of his work. However, Davies, in his work, reminds us that appearance can deceive, and invites all to take a closer look in life and phenomena. Music, the universe, existence, God, women, beauty, nature, mystery are some of the many themes that he likes to treat. Poetry is also present and the forms change and emerge anew. Light can come from within or any part of the subject. Indeed, all problems can be solved; there is no limit to knowledge; it is just that humans, with our limitations and arrogance do not always find the correct answers


	Emeric Davies in New York (95)

and that the «world, the universe remains beautiful despite the continuous destruction of nature by some of these «beautiful animals called Men». Emeric Davies, is one of the fastest artists in the world, capable of creating many complex, original art works on the spot with various simple materials and rare imagination, originality and finesse. But this Frenchy sometimes takes long to perfect a new style of his, before accelerating. His problem is time, because he would like to replace his hundreds of lost, damaged or stolen works, especially those burnt in a fire (criminal) at the home and office of an Editor to whose care they had been entrusted; and create countless others, for all Art lovers. He is convinced that Art and research help to provide and stimulate real knowledge. He writes:


	« I do not seek to be like the Others I would like to be a modest piece of the key to the door of truth and contribute to helping out all humans who suffer in the tempest of lies». My culture is not a badge that one fastens to a garment like a Nazi emblem.»
		Emeric Davies, Citizen of the Universe (Extract)..

Finally, the works of Emeric Davies show perpetual reconstruction, which he thinks is a fact of existence and that everything is possible; the «impossible» is made possible and even in the midst of sadness, happiness is suggested with hope.