Moments that become portraits

In the quiet space where observation becomes emotion and colours evolve into stories, art reveals its truest form—not as decoration, but as a language of presence. Every portrait begins long before the brush touches the canvas; it begins in the pause of a moment, in the unspoken dialogue between the artist and the world around him. It is within this delicate space that Hervé Alexandre finds the essence of his work, allowing each encounter to shape not only his paintings, but the narrative he carries across continents.
In a world where light intertwines with memory, the artist emerges as a traveller chasing the spark of first encounters. This is where Hervé Alexandre’s story begins—not merely as a painter, but as a soul reshaping the world through sensitivity and color.
Alexandre is a citizen of the world who has visited nearly a hundred countries. His art is a journey across nations and cultures, guided by the inspiration of travel. Through his work, he seeks to capture the powerful emotions that arise from discovery—the wonder of a first encounter, the fragility felt when arriving in an unfamiliar place, or the bittersweet feeling of leaving somewhere dear. His paintings, often joyful and vibrant, are born from the bliss of traveling and meeting others.

There is poetry in the moment a newspaper becomes a canvas, and Oman offered Hervé a living landscape of faces, impressions, and fleeting encounters that stirred his artistic curiosity. During his residency, this land offered him the atmosphere of both a living studio and a deep well of inspiration. One of his most distinctive practices is painting portraits on local newspapers—an endeavor that can be challenging in certain countries. For Hervé, a newspaper is more than a piece of paper; it embodies a culture, a language, a date, and a place. Painting the people he meets on these newspapers transforms each portrait into something truly unique and deeply personal. The exhibition “Portraits d’Oman”, created during his recent 10-days residency in the country, is a clear example of this intimate approach.
His journey in Oman began with a deep desire to discover its people, its rhythms, and the emotions hidden in everyday encounters. “In Oman, during my time in Muscat, I found inspiration everywhere,” he explains, as the city’s vibrant streets and bustling markets unfolded before him, offering countless faces, fleeting moments, and stories waiting to be captured. From this immersive experience emerged about twenty-five portraits that he later exhibited at the Franco-Omani Center, each one shaped by authentic human connection.

He describes his approach with striking clarity: “My process is always the same: to capture the moment of an encounter, to capture the emotion when seeing someone for the first time.” These portraits grew from spontaneous meetings with individuals he crossed paths with “in Oman—in Muscat, in Nizwa, at the Muttrah souq, at the fish market, or at the livestock market in Nizwa.”
And yet, beyond these fleeting exchanges, Hervé’s inspiration deepens in the places where daily life unfolds most vividly. With warmth in his voice, he recalls: “I am particularly fascinated by traditional markets because they embody the life of local communities. They are the best places to meet different people and observe their daily rhythms up close. These spaces ignite passion—they are where culture, customs, and traditions are beautifully preserved.”
With a quiet sense of appreciation for the day’s first light, he captures the beauty of moments that spark creativity. “I love these early mornings, the movement, the noise, the energy... moments when I come across faces that later transform into art. I also rely on my imagination, my memory, and sometimes a few photographs.”
Hervé is not merely a witness to the world; he is a humanist. Through his art, he stands for important causes: the preservation of cultures and minorities, the protection of the planet, and the response to ecological challenges. He also advocates passionately for art education and the promotion of artistic expression around the world.