When we meet, we both know we only have an hour for the interview as shortance of time is a mutual issue. But as Philippe Chaplin is a very efficient person, and an hour is more than enough to show his art in different places in Second Life.
I introduced Philippe before, in the article about the angels-expo at Tournicoton Art Gallery. (“We will be angels”) For this article it was Philippe who helped me with translations of texts that are used in the expo and he also made some excellent photo’s for my article.
Of course, we start at Philips gallery-unit at Tournicoton. there he has both paintings and photographs on his wall, what makes clear at once that he is in these two disciplines of art: painter in Real Life and photographer in Second Life.
MD: Where did you start? As I see both Real Life paintings and Second Life photo’s?
Philippe Chaplin: I started painting in Real Life before I knew about Second Life. I came in and I thought it would be nice to have some exposure. To have people to react on my paintings. That was the start. It is easier to expose here than in Real Life.
MD: Have you exposed in Real Life too?
Philippe Chaplin: No. In Real Life you need to be a known artist to have a chance. But I am thinking about having a small exposition locally, though.
MD: Is Tournicoton your first gallery in Second Life?
Philippe Chaplin: No. I have been in Second Life for over a year. I was first at the Artloft, a small gallery owned by a New Yorker. It has closed since. Then I rented a space at the french Quarter, a mall… It has closed since. Now I have a few pictures at the Ginsberg Grand Gallery too. And I am also at SLACC and a few works are at the Jardin des artistes.
MD: Both with paintings and photo’s like here?
Philippe Chaplin: It was only Real Life work first. Now I have concentrated my paintings at the SLACC and here it will be allways a mix.
MD: And why did you start at Tournicoton?
Philippe Chaplin: Oh, interesting. I was for long only connected to the anglo-saxon community, allways speaking in english. Then I met some people from the french group, and that is why I got here. Because of the “Echelle des Anges….” And that is all your fault….LOL
MD: I am very sorry! (not 
)
Philippe Chaplin: So I stay. And I am happy as it’s a living community.
MD: Is Tournicoton much more ‘alive’ then other galleries?
Philippe Chaplin: It looks like it, the owners seem keen to help and organize things. The collectivity is great here and that is why I will stay.
MD: And your work in Second Life. What made you start with Second Life-photography?
Philippe Chaplin: I made a decision at the beginning which was to try to live without bringing Real Life money in. And so I realized that selling art was not good enough and I started with Second Life photography. It’s like in Real Life, everybody can take snap shots, but not all are good pictures though.
MD: Who are your clients, where do you find them?
Philippe Chaplin: It depends. I sell some, I do specific work for clubs or for people who want good portraits. Lots of girls like good pictures to add in their profile. Some I have found and when I have free time I can go to a club and do a bit of public relations, but lately I don’t have time for that. And some are just asking, they come from recomendations. Some also need pictures for fashion contests.
MD: You made some pictures for me and they were excellent! How many models do you have, lets say in a month?
Philippe Chaplin: Maybe one a week. I can take 10 pictures to have one that is satisfying.
MD: So, you delete a lot?
Philippe Chaplin: It’s all kept in my pc. I can show you my private gallery and the studio if you are interested?
MD: Yes, sure!
Philippe Chaplin: Ok,let’s go. You will see more work.
It’s a residential area. You see? The place is as a gallery, but the door is normally closed. So here are works from Real Life, some you know allready, some are new, like the tulip, or the sample from the Iris serie.
MD: Yes, very bright, beautiful!
Philippe Chaplin: My paintings are done with a spatula, normally from photo’s I have taken previously. Do you see the yellow shutters here? This the photo, its in a little town in Brasil. Now come here… that’s the painting…. Same image, different media.
MD: The painting is very close to the original.
Philippe Chaplin: Yes, that is my problem. I have difficulty changing the reality… it feels like cheating, but in fact it would be creativity.
MD: It is the artistic freedom to change reality, or to show it in a different way, as your point of view is reality too.
Philippe Chaplin: True… I am slowly getting there. Well, abstract is closer to virtuality, because it does not exist.
MD: I think that is what art is about; show a different reality than usual.
Philippe Chaplin: It’s one part of the definition…yes.
MD: What does make you think that is does not exist?
Philippe Chaplin: It does not exist but only in my brain until I paint it.
MD: Some say: “It exists, because I think it“. Is that not so for you?
Philippe Chaplin: Hmm… that becomes philosophy. It exists because it is material. It’s an abstract. No photo’s, just colors and shapes, so it did not exist until I did paint it, not even in my brain.
MD: Started it to exist when you made it up? Or when the painting was done? Or somewhere on the way?
Philippe Chaplin: Exactly… it did not exist before, and it did afterwards.
MD: So, to exist it must be touchable?
Philippe Chaplin: Yes, unless we are talking about thoughts..dreams…feelings….
I am a visual person.
I will show you the next floor.
Philippe Chaplin: So here are the Second Life pictures. The third floor is where I prepare the model wall in Tournicoton. Let’s go up to the studio. So here we are. It’s a skybox at 400 meters above the house. You can try to take the pose-stand, so you will see how I work.
MD: And you controll this pose-stand?
Philippe Chaplin: Yes. Girls like to change outfits too. It can take an hour to get a good shoot.
MD: How many photo’s do you make in a shoot?
Philippe Chaplin: 30 or a bit more, it depends on what is needed. Less than half will be realy good to display. There are more than 30 poses in this stand.
Philippe Chaplin: we can go at the SLACC to finish the interview.
MD: Yes, please.
Philippe Chaplin: I have only paintings here at SLACC.
MD: Just, after all… where is your passion? In paintings or in Second Life-photography?
Philippe Chaplin: I have a period of Second Life photography now, it’s fast and I love the interaction with the people. But I have the prospect to return to painting in Real Life, probably next year…
MD: Does the Real Life-art inspire you in Second Life-photography?
Philippe Chaplin: No. They are separated, but the way I look at things is the same, I like rythme in colors and forms.
MD: Does the Second Life-work in it’s turn inspire your Real Life-work?
Philippe Chaplin: Good question, the answer is no. But I know an artist that did. She is an English artist and she came in and got the inspiration to do a serie of paintings. She did the inauguration in paralelle Second Life and Real Life, with a video link. We could see the Real Life people in Second Life and they had a screen and could see us.
A funny experience…..
Landmarks
! TOURNICOTON Art Gallery, Kuai hele (228, 143, 21)
SLACC – Second Life Art Community Centre, Lilac Island (23, 31, 27)
* Brightness, the perception of how dark or light a source of luminance is
She will be among us on
