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Alain Vachaudez

"I was born in Wallonia, on the southern plains of Belgium, where I spent the first part of my life. At 21, pushed by the freedom winds of the 1960s, I dropped out of the university and left home to travel the world.

"Always fascinated by alternate realities and self-discovery, I taught myself to paint with oils to try and share my visions. In between tries I was lucky enough to earn money by selling paintings and decorating homes, restaurants and cafes. For the next 20 years, I never stopped wandering throughout India, Nepal, Australia, South America and Southeast Asia, keeping my heart and mind opened to the magical underlying reality. Charmed by the natural beauty of this 'Land of Smiles' and the easy-going character of its friendly people, I decided to settle in Thailand. After three years in the southern islands, I finally found a home in the green northern hills.

"From the two dimensions of painting, I felt like enjoying three dimensions and started sculpting and modeling wax. One day, after an enlightening exchange on Celtic mysteries with an old gentleman from Brittany, I thought of trying to manifest the little people of fairyland. Helped by the metal-casting skills of jeweler friends and people collecting butterfly wings from insect farms, I have been able to create these little images that I share - with magic - with loving people all around the world.

"In these days when all medias sanctify violence and when the inhuman transformations brought by the modern world are constantly menacing us, fairies are the emissaries of a gentler side of reality, of a parallel dream time, where all beings enjoy life in harmony. They are delicate manifestations of the spirit of nature, of the joy and happiness to which all humans aspire. They remind us of the fragility of the beauty that surrounds us, which we have the duty to protect. All thoughts that link us to them form a message of love to the mother of us all."