Frantisek Mertl, dit Franta

1930 (Trébic (Tchécoslovaquie))
Living in : France
Working in : France
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Artist's gallery

"I am constantly thinking, having experienced it, of the emigrants who leave their country and go into the unknown. It is so difficult to leave what is part of oneself, what has formed the human in oneself. Borders are a catastrophe for humanity... It is the fragility of man that haunts me, and his difficulty to take charge of his destiny in relation to his dreams. More than words, it is the painting that must speak, and arouse emotions. A painting is an invitation to dialogue. Unshared, it does not live. As I grow older, I realise to what extent I am following in the footsteps of my father, a great traveller who spoke seven or eight languages, and who joined the French army to fight against Hitler's power. He was very committed to humanity as a whole and militated for Esperanto, simplifying the language to allow better understanding between people. I have therefore chosen a language that does not need a dictionary. To offer this wordless reading to all men, the only necessity being to open up and feel. "
Franta, January 2017



Artist's issues


Issue 76
Issue 93






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