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INTERVIEW WITH
JOHANN GOUTARD |
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November 25, 2017
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Johann Goutard is a freelance concept artist who has done work for companies like Gallimard, Flammarion, FremenCorp, and Ubisoft, as well as brand develop for various clients. He received a traditional education in advertising and design and spent the early part of his professional life working as an art director for brand and web agencies, until one day seeing the amazing work of Dylan Cole and Yanick Dusseault in an industry magazine. It was then, he realized he’d found a new calling and set out to become a digital concept artist. Day after day and night after night, blogs and tutorials for emerging artists were his favorite pastime when he wasn’t working on client projects. A year later, he began writing his own tutorials for magazines and was eventually commissioned by Nadeo (Ubisoft) for two projects, then shortly after for three Game of Thrones covers by Groupe Flammarion, the fourth-largest publishing group in France. It was the start of his new life as a digital concept artist, and his career has remained a joy ever since.
As a child, Johann enjoyed reading science fiction, especially Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy, and dreamed of the many inhabited worlds of the Galactic Empire. Having the opportunity to illustrate the latest editions of the trilogy for French publisher Gallimard was one of his most exciting projects. And yet, with a lifetime ahead of him, it seems the best is yet to come. As an artist, what inspires you to create science fiction? Sci-fi is “thinking about the future”. Like many people, my love of science fiction stems from movies like Star Wars and Star Trek, and wonderful authors like Isaac Asimov (Foundation), Frank Herbert (Dune), Phillip K. Dick (Blade Runner), and Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451). What I find fascinating about science fiction is that we, as artists, have the power to create and tell our own vision of the future. We choose the time period, level of realism (hard or soft sci-fi), and how close our visions are to the current reality. The only limitation is our imagination, that part of us that transports us elsewhere and has lured us to fantastical places and worlds for most of our childhood. Imagining and dreaming involves transposing the way we current live with the way we might be able to live. These fictional universes are endless for dreamers, and that’s the magic of sci-fi! What sci-fi books, movies, or artists have made a lasting impression on you? The first thing that comes to mind is the series West World. I totally agree with this vision of the future! It is marked by reality, video games, varied atmospheres, and philosophical questions that are as overwhelming as they are real. Given our current society, and what companies are creating nowadays, everything suggests that we are indeed moving toward augmented reality. With regards to artists and books, I can kill two birds with one stone… Dominium Mundi, written by François Baranger, who also happens to be a very talented concept artist. Other than art and science fiction, what are you most passionate about? There are quite a few things, but I would say technology, in a broad sense—the promise of 3D printing and all it offers, drones, flying cars, Virgin Galactic, and the passion that man has for the “utopia” of immortality. ;) When it comes to the future, what is your outlook for humanity—Utopian, Dystopian, Little of Both? I don’t believe this is a simple question, but I’ve touched on the subject in my previous answers. The world today is experiencing profound changes at such an unparalleled pace, and I feel all directions are possible. I think about the environment, which seems to be a concern for everybody at the moment, and something that, if not taken seriously, might cancel this question all together. The fact is, the future is already here. It seems every day our present becomes more and more like the science fiction that entertains us. So much so, I feel we’re either at the end of something, or that sci-fi, as a genre, is in need of a renewal. If you could turn one future technology from concept to reality, which would it be? I think teleportation would be really huge! My cousin has been working on it for years already (ha-ha… private joke). But seriously, I think it could perhaps bring people closer together, instead of having them engage via blue screens. With regards to intelligent life—not fauna in general—which statement do you think is most likely to be true? (a) There is an abundance of intelligent life in the universe. (b) The universe is a big place, but intelligent life is scarce. (c) Other than mankind and our creations, there is no intelligent life to be found in this universe. I would say that we do not perceive the universe at its proper scale. In principle, it is difficult to imagine it in its entirety, and therefore extremely hard to understand our place in it. From a philosophical point of view, it is impossible for me to think that we are alone. I would say we just have not found a way to communicate yet. Other than physics-defying, giant fiery explosions and sound in space (which is done for audience enjoyment), which ideas/concepts do you think are most often misrepresented in modern science fiction? The heads of aliens. :) Name at least one other digital artist whose work you admire. Fan Gao, Andrey Serov, Maciej Kuciara, Ryan Lang, Nicolas “Sparth” Bouvier |
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JOHANN'S PORTFOLIO SITE(S):
Personal: http://johanngoutard.fr/ Artstation: http://www.artstation.com/johanngoutard |
Space Cat
Anacreon
La fraternité du Panca
Rescue
DEH-TJVOK
"Foundation" Book Cover
Panca T4
Paris 2611
May the Force