Victor Anicet trained as a ceramist initially at the Ecole des Arts Appliqués in Fort-de-France (academy of applied arts), continuing his training at Ecoles des Métiers des Arts de Paris (school of applied arts) in the ceramics department; at graduation in 1961, he was recognised as first in his class. After obtaining certification for a preparatory class for physics and chemistry applied to ceramics at the Arts et Métiers in Paris, he undertook numerous training courses in Europe: first in France, with potters such as Yves Mohy and Jean and Jacqueline Lerat at the
École des Beaux-Arts de Bourges, then in England with
John Reeve and
Bernard Leach, at
Michael Cardew'sSt Ives pottery and finally with Marion Mangold in
Ottweiler, in Germany.[1][2]
Background and work in Martinique
His paintings evoke
Maroons as people of courage and rebellion.[4] He creates objects that respond to
Martinique and the history of the
indigenous people of the island, which he explored at a young age with
Rev. Pere Pinchon, co-founder of the International Association for Caribbean Archaeology and an initiator of
archaeological research in Martinique.[5] Assisting at a dig in the Adoration district in
Le Marigot, Anicet learned about the ceramic culture of the
Arawak by observing the fragments of pottery he was cleaning.[6]
In 1984, he was a co-creator of the group "Fwomajé", the Creole for the
kapok tree, which carries out research on Caribbean aesthetics.[7][8] He has exhibited in France, the Caribbean, Germany and
South Korea.[9] In a collaboration with the Atelier Simon Marq, a studio in
Reims, he created
stained glass windows for the
Co-Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption, Saint-Pierre; the work was dedicated on 8 December 2006.[10][11] He studied at the Petit Manoir College, located in Lamentin, Martinique, now named Lycée Polyvalent Victor Anicet.[12]
Retrospective exhibitions
An exhibition of works selected from across Anicet's career was included in the 34th
São Paulo Art Biennial and another, Sève, was held in tribute to his career in 2021 at Tropiques Atrium, an arts venue in
Fort-de-France.[13]
Filmography
2009 Victor Anicet, céramiste et artiste martiniquais[14][15]