An Interview of the young half Thai and half Polish artist Oh de Laval for Purple by Valeria Della Valle, at the occasion of her new exhibition Take Your Pleasure Seriously on view at Galerie Marguo, Paris until May 6, 2023.
Valeria Della Valle: Your paintings have always intrigued me. I’ve often wondered if they are a reflection of your life or more of a fantasy world that you wish to live in.
Oh De Laval: Well, it’s both. Sometimes I paint about the exact situations that I am living in, other times I recreate what other people are telling me, and at times I depict situations that would be comforting and cool to happen in the real world.
Valeria Della Valle: It must be fulfilling to have the ability to put your thoughts on canvas. When you switched from industrial design to painting, do you recall the feeling of knowing that this was your calling?
Oh De Laval: I initially studied industrial design because I wanted to be like one of the famous Italian architects, but I forgot that technical skills were required (laughs). However, I was very good at painting, and my London apartment was full of my artwork. I wasn’t discouraged by not selling them. I was merely expressing myself. I can only keep going on and on; painting is as natural to me as breathing.
Valeria Della Valle: Your artwork has a distinctive signature style. It’s not a repetitive element, but rather an energy and style that make your artworks undeniably identifiable as Oh de Laval’s.
Oh De Laval: I cannot explain what that is as I don’t see it myself. I don’t do it on purpose, if that makes sense. But I feel that a work of art needs to have a powerful emotion within to shake people off from their apathy, from their sleepiness. What I aim to achieve with my work is shaking people off from their 9 to 5 routine, and to do that, the artwork must be strong, like alcohol. Sometimes I have an idea for a painting, and I go for a walk, observe people, look at them as they carry groceries and head home. I ask myself, “Would they like it? Would it make them happy, or would it make them feel anything at all?” If the answer is no, then the painting is not right.
