Born in Paris in 1953, Guy Detot first studies woodwork at the prestigious Ecole Boule.

Yet, do not ask him for any diploma or certificate. “On est pas serieux quand on a 17 ans” “one is not serious when ones is 17” says the French poet and Guy is a perfect illustration. If asked, he would tell you how sunny was the day of his exam, how warm the water, how charming the girls and how inaccurate a piece of paper compared with a lovely summer day in Paris.

While studying woodwork, Guy also studies ballet and soon he is offered a scholarship to study dance with the Folkwangschule. Therefore, in 1973, the young father of little Frédérique, leaves for Essen, Germany. He joins dance companies as prestigious as Pina Bausch, Korn Danz forum and Ballet Rambert, with which he tours all over the word.

He meets his wife Shelley while she is touring in Europe with the Australian Dance Theatre. Together they head back to Australia. Guy resumes his successful career taking part in Song and Dance for which is nominated best performer at the green room award. He then performs with the Australian Dance Theatre and is nominated three times for best Australian male modern dancer. He finally creates his own dance company, Theatre encore.

In 1990, the couple decides for a complete change of career. They set up a Clydesdale farm, move to Penola, and enjoyed a country life style with their two children Lily and Remy. Guy - who is always travelling with his sculpting tools - discovers the amazing qualities of local Red Gum and quite naturally, resumes with sculpting.

Guy still lives in Penola today and it seems he would not live anywhere else.

He now owns his own Art Gallery. Many more prices and awards have punctuated his new career: the Government of South Australia owns one of his 10000 yo red gum sculptures and a similar one has been acquired by the director of The French National Plastic Arts Centre. In 2009 he is commissioned to create 20 sculptures for all Mary MacKillop Schools in Australia and New Zealand. In 2010, he is chosen to create the reliquaries that will hold a lock of hair from the first Australian Saint.

Local wineries have extremely supportive of his work…Maybe because Guy is always ready to make deals that include good Coonawarra wines. His backyard is filled with unusual pieces of Red Gum given to him by local farmers. Red Gum, red wine, good friends and a petanque club, Penola is definitely the place for a French born Australian sculptor.

Do you need to know all of this to appreciate his sculptures? Probably not but it definitely makes sense. Guy uses his knowledge of bodies to exacerbate the beauty of the wood. He uses the quality of the wood to exacerbate the expressions of his bodies. Both his male and female figures are very sensual and yes, you can touch them. Actually, you will find out it is very difficult not to.

Some pieces are deeper and darker and it is not only because Guy sometimes uses a 10 000 year old red gum which has turned black. However, even when Guy creates a sculpture reflecting feelings of sorrows and desperation such as “No way out?” there is still a little space for hope, even if the space is as little as a question mark.

Because there is a French tradition Guy practices very well. It is called joie de vivre.

Detot-Le Max Gallery,
28 Young Street, Penola SA 5277,
Phone: 08 8737 3009
Mobile: 0408 373 007
detotslemax@yahoo.com