(^52) | APRIL 2016
also a good way to "read" the world, so to speak. I also find
myself doing things that I sometimes find too cute or tame,
and following them up with something a bit more caustic. It's
important for me to have a good balance. I don't want to be
a curmudgeon, but I don't want to be a Teletubby either.
Your work is very thematic with few very recurrent topics,
such as social media, smartphone addiction, and “TGIF,” to
name a few. Is it a form of personal challenge to reinvent
the similar ideas that always do well, or is it based on an
audience that expects a certain Jean Jullien moment?
The reason I ask is that I feel you really care about how
people react to your drawings. Like a Seinfeld joke,
you are probably concerned about whether it will be an
crowdpleaser, right?
That's an interesting matter, actually. I often feel a strange
sense of guilt when I do the same kind of image, such as
those I do on Mondays and Fridays, because my work is
normally based on finding new ideas. But, at the same time,
I find it challenging to find new ideas for a similar subject. It's
like a weekly question that is being asked, and I try to come
up with a different answer each time. It's interesting, from a
creative point of view, is like a creative gymnastics routine—
in a good way.
It is also proof that my work is a natural way of expressing
myself. I draw how I feel on Mondays and Fridays, then share
it. It starts as a personal thing. But, after doing it for a while,
I've realized that it's the images based on daily life that are
the most popular because they're so relatable. They're a
shared experience; hence, we all have something to say
about it. My drawings are just a vehicle to say it. In that
sense, social media makes illustration very practical. It turns
images into speech bubbles that are being borrowed by
everybody when they share, regram or retweet them.
You are going to be a dad soon. For me, it was a huge
game changer, creatively. Knowing your sense of humor, I
am sure that we are going to see some new Jean specials
on Instagram and maybe a children's book. Are you excited
about this new world and lifestyle that will come like a slap
in your face?
Well, this is, indeed, a terrifying prospect as much as it is
exciting! I do worry a bit about my content changing, but
above (from left)
Douche
2012
Bus
2012
tuis.
(Tuis.)
#1