The 'Le Vincent – Béret d’Arles' is a limited edition of top quality foulard berets by Boneteria Aotearoa and Billy Childish and handmade by Manufacture de Bérets in Béarn.
Berets in 100% natural brown, undyed merino wool;, French linen lined and available in the standard 28cm diameter, the large 31cm diameter and the 12p/Chasseur Alpin model.
Billy Childish:
"The 1st painting I was truly aware of, when I was 2 years old, was a small print of Vincent’s sunflowers that hung in the breakfast nook. I asked, “who painted that?” “Vincent”, my mother answered.
From age 4, I knew I wanted to become a painter. When I was 9 years old my mother read me Irving Stone’s Lust for Life and that sealed the deal. Aged 16, I was a stone mason in Chatham dockyard, unqualified to study art, but by drawing my fellow workers I blagged my way into St Martins School of Art to do painting in 1978. The fashion of the day was Abstract Expressionism, and I was viewed as a retard and fool for liking Vincent’s work.
I walked out of St Martins at 1/2 term. I had another stint at art school in 1980 but this time managed to get expelled. Living on the dole I continued to follow my star in the face of the art worlds degradation of figurative painting.
Back in the 70's and 80's no one was pretending to be into art like they do now. There was little or no industry of tea towels and tat in gallery gift shops, just real books: art was a vocation for believers.
This beret is a genuine celebration of the true heart of Vincent, and no part of that trash world. When I found Daan was making berets from the wool of the ancient breed of Arles merino sheep I instantly knew we should make a beret in honour of the real artist, and peasant. The fact there was not a penny to be made doing so (due to the difficulty working with the tough, natural wool of Arles sheep and subsequent production costs), to my mind only made the project more worthwhile.
I am an artist who believes in the soul of man, truth, and not to be ruled by money. Art is valued for the wrong reason and undervalued for the wrong reason. Here we have a beret of craft for those who celebrate truth and meaning."
