Enzo Dehm-Taine, a Caledonian illustrator working for the North Province [Une semaine à Montpellier]

It’s the story of a young adult who everyone said could never become a cartoonist. And yet, he did. “My goal is for everyone to be able to say to themselves: ‘We can live from our dreams'”, says Enzo Dehm-Taine (pronounced “Taïne”), in a very serious tone. The young man, originally from Lifou in New Caledonia, is only 21 years old. And he’s already running his own business.

It is in Montpellier that we find him, in his room, where he has set up his work desk: a large computer screen, a graphics tablet, microphones, a piano… “Since I was little, I draw and I tell everyone that I want to become a professional designerhe says. But people always told me that drawing was not a job, but a passion.”

Despite the lack of encouragement from those around him, he does not let go of his dream. This mixed-race child – his mother is Kanak, his father is from Lorraine – then flew to France. In Montpellier, he joined Ipesaa, the private institute of higher education in applied arts, one of the city’s private schools which trains enthusiasts of the image professions.

But Enzo’s schooling does not go as planned. In 2020, when the Covid-19 put the country on hold, he decided to stop his studies. “I was told to change my line of work because I wasn’t necessarily cut out for drawing.” Two weeks later, “par pure spirit of revenge and pride”, he laughs, he started his own business and launched into active life. A young entrepreneur is born.

For three years now, he has made his hobby his job. He sells his services to individuals. But it is above all with the Northern Province of Caledonia that he collaborates the most. “The North Province hires me as an illustrator so that New Caledonian authors do not have to search in all directions”. This administrative region of New Caledonia has become a sort of intermediary between writers and designers.

His niche is mainly children’s books. “I illustrate Caledonian stories, tales and legends”, sums up the Kanak. He thus illustrated the book Gecko, The Sacred World of Caou et The Word of the Old Wisefor example, books that can be found in the province’s libraries or classrooms.

I have always wanted to illustrate the tales and legends of New Caledonia. These are stories that are transmitted mainly orally. Today, authors write and reinterpret. And I draw them.

Enzo Dehm-Taine, illustrator

In the small comfort of his life in Montpellier, Enzo Dehm-Taine is already thinking about his return to the Pacific: “I want to return to New Caledonia to develop my island, my country.” And to set an example: you can dream and succeed by coming from an overseas territory.

This young man with piercing brown eyes and dark curls barely holds still. “I have to keep busy because I am hyperactive”, he admits. When he’s not drawing, he links projects to projects: in music, writing, video… In short, an artist’s life.

Enzo Dehm-Taine says it himself: he is only at the “very beginning of his path”. He sees himself giving up his life as a freelance designer (and the paperwork that goes with it) to join a large video game company (like Ubisoft, for example). Always with the same mantra: “If you have a dream, whatever people may say, make it happen. Go for it, even if you’re the only one who believes in it.”

Find the meeting with Enzo Dehm-Taine in this video module directed by Olivier Canneval:

1 week in Montpellier: Portrait of Enzo Dehm-Taine, a Caledonian illustrator.

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