Boonah artist will join world’s best in Cannes
A BOONAH painter has been selected by Pablo Picasso's granddaughter to hang his art among the best in the world.
French-born artist Dany Weus will have his work displayed at the Artistes du Monde - Artists of the World - exhibition in Cannes, France, this September.
"It's big stuff," said Mr Weus, who has exploded onto the international art scene since having his art hung in the Louvre last December.
While he has previously had paintings exhibited in New York and France, Mr Weus said this was the pinnacle of his career to date.
"It's amazing - it's the biggest accomplishment for any artist in the world," the 68-year-old said.
The Artistes du Monde Cannes exhibition is a prestigious event held on September 25 to 30 under the patronage of Picasso's granddaughter Madame Marina Picasso.
Mr Weus will join about 100 other international artists in the display.
The former newspaper photographer has a studio at the old Boonah Butter Factory from where he paints.
He said his works were inspired by the abstract expressionism of renowned American artist Jackson Pollock.
"It's Pollockian in style, but I paint with Australia in mind," he said.
"I use colours that are really Australian in nature."
Mr Weus and his wife Vivienne travelled to France late last year with 15 of his best canvases rolled up and under their arms.
Following the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition in the Louvre, Mr Weus will be joining a few other artists in Le Cannet, inland from Cannes, for an exhibition from March 9 to 23.
He will hold another joint exhibition in Barcelona, Spain, in April, before opening a solo exhibition back in Le Cannet during May - the same time as the Cannes Film Festival.
The couple will stay put in the French Riviera while Mr Weus prepares for the upcoming events.
He said his agent submitted 10 of his works to Madame Picasso, and now they have the difficult task of choosing the one piece which will hang in the Artistes du Monde exhibit.
When asked what's next, Mr Weus said: "I've got no idea where this is going," he said. "I'm working with artists from all over the world. Right now, I'm on the bandwagon so we will wait and see."
