About

R.Farouk

Artistic Approach / Exhibitions
Cultural Mediation / Press Review

BIOGRAPHY

Farouk Ratib (his full name) was born in Morocco in 1949 where he is lulled by the magic of the tales of the East, as of birth.
He arrives in France as a teenager and attends a performance of « Swan Lake » held at the Strasbourg Opera. This is the spark ! Fascinated by the enchantment of the show, the decor and the lighting, he knows that this is the universe he wants to work in. He even begins his career as a painter and decorator in this same opera. Who would have imagined that 25 years later, he is the one who will design the scenography for « Swan Lake » on this same stage.

In 1971, he meets the famous theatre directors Roger Planchon and Patrice Chéreau at theThéâtre National Populaire de Villeurbanne, and is lucky to be able to collaborate with them on various shows. He accompanies Patrice Chéreau on« Le Ring » at the Bayreuth Festival (1976 to 1979), works on the sets as assistant set designer to Richard Peduzzi. This extraordinary adventure will open many doors for him.

After a detour at the Théâtre de Bobigny (Paris) where he is deputy set decorator for « Le juif Süss » directed by Jacques Kraemer, he leaves France.
He stays in Rome in the Cinecittà studies to deepen his technical knowledge in sculpture. He pursues his travels to Berlin then Würzburg and Stuttgart where he designs and produces the sets and costumes for shows directed by Dominik Neuner.

In1986, back in Strasbourg he is nominated chief set decorator at the Opéra du Rhin (Strasbourg) and in parallel works as scenographer and designs the sets for « Wozzeck » together with the one for « Swan Lake ».

As of the nineties, still searching for new horizons, he makes new encounters : with Peter Brook, Jacques Weber, Bob Wilson, M. C. Pietragalla, J.C. Gallota, he produces several paintings for theatre sets on canvas and tulle for their productions.
In 2001, Nicolas Joel, stage and artistic director of the Théâtre du Capitole (Toulouse) asks him to complete his team as head of his stage sets and scenographic workshop. He offers him the scenography and decorative design for the « Nougaro », « Giselle », « Who cares ? » and « Slaughter on 10th Avenue » ballets.

The year 2010 is a turning point in his career, he settles down to live in the Dordogne, where in his workshop he devotes himself to his personal painting and sculpture creations.

ARTISTIC APPROACH

As much in painting as in sculpture, he relates stories to lead the public into his universe invaded by Greco-Roman mythology as well as the tales from the East.

Always searching for techniques with lightness and transparency, he juggles with play of light and color contrast to create works which he stage-directs into chosen spaces.