Michael Viger
The Artist at the Crossroads of Worlds
**Michaël Viger: Painter and Filmmaker**
Michaël Viger, a Franco-Austrian painter and filmmaker, embodies the fascinating intersection of cinema and fine arts. His extraordinary journey, from film sets to painting studios, via smoky jazz clubs and behind-the-scenes glimpses of history, nourishes a unique and deeply evocative body of work.
Transforming construction wood into canvases vibrant with emotion, Viger captures the essence of a bygone era while creating a bridge to the present. Each of his creations invites you to dive into a universe where jazz resonates, cinema icons come to life, and every brushstroke tells a captivating story.
Discover the work of an artist whose sensitivity and extraordinary experiences translate into paintings that touch the soul and awaken the senses.
**The Artist and His Canvas**
Step into the captivating world of Michaël Viger, an artist whose overflowing sensitivity turns every experience into a vibrant work of art. A passionate painter, Michaël gives a second life to construction wood, transforming it into canvases where memories and emotions dance.
"I love being the observer and creating a story."
**Parisian Nights**
"I remember working at night at the Théâtre du Châtelet. It was crazy back then, I was moving from place to place. Actually, not much has changed. Nowadays, I still run around; maybe I should work there again."
From his feverish nights in Parisian jazz clubs, Michaël draws endless inspiration. "After work, I would walk to finish my evenings in jazz clubs like 'Le Caveau de la Huchette' or 'Les 3 Maillets' in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. I met Memphis Slim, Sonny Rollins, and others; you could smoke and try all kinds of substances. I loved that time."
**A Rich Cinematic Career**
Michaël Viger began his cinematic career with Arte as a researcher specializing in World War II veterans. This unique experience led him to collaborate with Henri Verneuil as an assistant on the film *Mayrig*, starring Omar Sharif and Claudia Cardinale.
Over a span of 25 years, Michaël held various key roles in the film industry: first assistant director, second-unit director, and advisor on several renowned films. His impressive filmography includes works such as *The Man in the Iron Mask* with Leonardo DiCaprio and John Malkovich, *Harrison's Flowers* with Andie MacDowell, Adrien Brody, and Gerard Butler, *The Visitors* with Christian Clavier and Jean Reno, and *The Curse of Edgar* with Brian Cox, to name just a few.
**From Cinema to Espionage: An Extraordinary Life**
"This period, with those strange encounters, was simply incredible. I thought it was one of those stories I read as a child. Meeting these secret agents in the lobby of an old Soviet hotel on Moscow’s Red Square. Dining at Stalin's table in his favorite restaurant. Meeting the first American who, in June '44, shook hands with a Soviet soldier. A Soviet soldier whom I met 60 years later, who gave me the insignia he wore on his uniform at the time. So, I have a treasure box at home containing exceptional moments with exceptional people."
**The Influence of Cinema and His Muses**
His work draws inspiration from the golden age of industrial cinema from the 1930s to the 1950s, with the image compositions of Alfred Hitchcock and the intensity of Orson Welles. His muses—Kim Novak, Grace Kelly, and Tippi Hedren—come to life under his brush, embodying the elegance and mystery of a bygone era.
**A Unique Style**
Influenced by the realism of Edward Hopper, the grace of Klimt, and the intimacy of Vivian Maier’s photographs, Michaël creates a unique style where nostalgia dances with innovation. His paintings are bridges between eras, uniting classicism with the roughness of the industrial 20th century.
**An Invitation to Journey**
What does each painting hide? What secrets do these painted woods whisper? Michaël Viger's art is an invitation to an emotional journey, where each work is an open door to a world of sensations and memories.
Come discover the universe of a man who lives every moment with rare intensity, transforming this wealth of emotions into works of art that touch the soul and awaken the senses.
private conversation
01.
Michael Viger, born in Vienna but raised mainly in France, embodies the perfect fusion of Austrian and French cultures. The son of a French film composer and a mother from a Viennese entrepreneurial family, Viger has built a remarkable career in French cinema while maintaining strong ties to his Austrian roots.
02.
His career as a first assistant director led him to work with some of the biggest names in French cinema. Viger explains: "I was lucky enough to have a long and fruitful career during which I worked with great directors like Henri Verneuil, Sally Potter, Florent Emilio Siri and Randall Wallace. I learned a lot from them, for example the importance of careful preparation, or the magic of creating a scene."
03.
His childhood had a profound impact on his artistic vision. He recalls with emotion: "I remember very well accompanying my father for recordings in an old theater in the heart of Paris when I was a child. I loved spending time alone in the back room of the empty theater, because for me, the theater was full of ghosts and wonderful stories."
04.
This experience fueled his imagination and creativity, pushing him to explore various art forms. "My family gave me this love for music, painting and cinema. I am very happy to be able to paint, play music and make films," he confides.
05.
He considers himself a citizen of the world, straddling several cultures. "To be completely honest, France is no more home to me than Austria, because home is where I feel good. I grew up between Vienna and Paris and I love both cultures, both histories, which are shaped by art."
06.
His passion for cinema is mixed with his love for gastronomy, which he poetically compares to the art of cinema: "Cooking and wine are the golden line of epicureanism. It's in our genes, and this quest for pleasure is reflected in everything I do. [...] Cooking is the story, wine is the perfume of a film, a wonderful cocktail that must be elegant and finely balanced to intoxicate the senses with our knowledge as chefs."
07.
Michael Viger thus embodies a vision of cinema rich in multiple cultural influences, nourished by a childhood bathed in art and an international career. His unique journey between France and Austria allows him to bring an original and passionate perspective on the world of European cinema.