Cyril PAPINOU

Short Biography

New Scholarship Holder Cyril Papinou was born in Carcassonne on 17th May 1975 and has been paralysed in the arms and legs since birth (cerebral palsy). He was born into a family of musicians. Cyril’s grandfather always played a very important role in his life. He took time for him and built many devices to make his life easier. Cyril attended the primary school in Pezens for two days a week, and the other days attended a centre for the disabled in Carcassonne. As he grew up in a world full of music, he had the desire to become a pianist too. He received lessons based on an American method using colours, but unfortunately his disability made a full training impossible. After his parents’ divorce – he was 15 at the time – Cyril attended a centre for disabled people in Lavaur (Tarn) every day. There, he discovered painting. Practicing proves difficult, as Cyril’s disability requires specially-adapted equipment. Yet, despite all these obstacles, Cyril is very motivated and enthusiastic about this creative work. Since 1999, he has been having drawing lessons with Michèle Bautista, who, together with his godfather, helps him to master tricks to be able to draw and paint more easily. A selection of his large-scale gouache pictures were exhibited in Villepinte. The talent and perseverance of this young artist and the quality of his works were admired by an enthusiastic public.