Northwest Region
“Arigato Foujita
To mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of artist Léonard Foujita in 2016, 14 young people from the Grand-Ouest region wrote and recorded a moving song to pay tribute to him.
Settled in a country gîte, they spent 5 days totally immersed in the artist’s world and artistic creation. They began by actively researching Foujita’s life. A highlight of the week was a visit to the Maison-atelier Foujita.
Foujita’s work and career speak to young people. They are astonished to discover a versatile, world-renowned artist, but also a simple man and a successful example of the blending of East and West. The visit to his studio blew them away:
“A veritable Ali-Baba cave!
Accompanied by their educators and two music and writing professionals, they wrote texts inspired by his works and the key moments in his career. They made the artist’s life their own, and built bridges with their own stories.
This ambitious adventure has enabled each young person to find their place and reveal their talents. The result is a magnificent 3-verse song, accompanied by a video tribute to Foujita.
A perfect illustration of the Fondation Foujita’s conviction that artistic practices combined with the discovery of the artist’s career and work constitute a formidable learning base for young people.
Establishments :
Établissement Notre-Dame, La Loupe (28)
Établissement Daniel Brottier, Bouguenais (44)
Établissement sociaux Saint-Martin, Le Mans (72)
MECS Saint-Sébastien, Saint-Sébastien-de-Morsent (27)
Artists involved :
Willy (stage name Dalseem), rapper and writing workshop leader
Agnès Aumis, vocal coach
Will, sound engineer Studio Baraka prod
Transcription of the song
Refrain
Arigato as they say in Japan,
Foujita – thank you for your gifts,
With your winged heart, full of love,
You’ve flown over the world with bravery.
Verse 1
After his mother’s death,
He overcame this pain
Decisive goal: to be one of the best
Head held high, full of ambition,
At the age of 27, he decided to export his passion.
Dad, I’m leaving for France
To be a great painter,
My childhood dream.
And when we meet again, it will be great.
He leaves Japan for France with hope
He’s on his way to Paris
To discover his new life
When he arrives in the capital
He befriends the painter Chagall
With the great artists of the Ecole de Paris
Modigliani becomes his best friend
Foujita is a jack-of-all-trades: he sculpts, he paints
He’s nice to people and the world liked him
He travels the world to exhibit his art
In sharing his story
He exhibits in Latin America
Sign works from Cuba to China
Baptized in Reims, he became a Christian
For him, it’s a new path.
Verse 3
He changed cats, houses, countries
He made portraits and photographs
He turned pro after an apprenticeship
He is no longer of this world
But his art is in the game (x 2)
