Jean-François Homerin: telling the story of a show before the first shell even ascends

At ARTEVENTIA, every show is born from a dialogue between artistic creation, technical precision, and site knowledge.
In Belgium, this mission relies heavily on Jean-François Homerin, project manager and pyrotechnician.

For several years, he has represented the company in Belgian territory, where he develops shows blending musical composition, artistic design, and site enhancement.

But before organizing major international events, his history with pyrotechnics began in a much simpler way.

A passion born in the family garden

Jean-François discovered the pleasure of creating shows at a very early age.

A calm and reserved child, he transformed family gatherings into genuine small-scale pyrotechnic stagings. Using a few rockets, fountains, and all his savings, he was already imagining scenes accompanied by music.

The means were modest, but the imagination was already there.

Inspired notably by the spectacular concerts of Jean-Michel Jarre, he gradually added light shows and handcrafted installations. Step by step, his experiments became more ambitious.

This childhood passion would eventually naturally chart his professional path.

An old-school training in the trade

Jean-François truly entered the profession in 1998, within a company in northern France.

At the time, pyrotechnics still operated with rudimentary means: a lot of manual labor, little electronics, and installations that had to be constantly protected from the elements.

This period constituted a true school of learning.

It taught him the fundamental basics of the trade: precision, vigilance, and a sense of the terrain.

“Nothing can be left to chance: you must know how to adapt and remain constantly attentive.”

Over the years, he also developed an artistic sensitivity by designing soundtracks and pyrotechnic scenographies.

The meeting with ARTEVENTIA

His path crossed with those of Édouard Grégoire and Pierre Legrand during the Nuits de Feu, the Chantilly pyrotechnic festival, one of the most prestigious events in the sector.

The meeting marked a turning point.

When the company ARTEVENTIA was founded in 2013, Jean-François Homerin immediately wished to join the adventure and contribute to the company’s development in Belgium.

Since then, he has acted as project manager for this territory, identifying events where ARTEVENTIA’s artistic approach can truly express itself.

His work often begins long before the show’s design: analyzing the site, understanding audience expectations, and studying technical constraints.

Music as a starting point

In his approach to creation, music occupies an essential place.

A trained musician, Jean-François considers the soundtrack to be the true backbone of a show.

“I cannot listen to music without immediately imagining the pyrotechnic effects that could accompany it.”

This sensitivity allows for the design of shows where pyrotechnics, music, and rhythm dialogue to create an immersive experience.

Shows across the globe

Over the years, Jean-François has participated in numerous events in Europe and internationally.

Some remain particularly memorable.

The Belgian National Day on July 21st, fired in front of the Palais du Cinquantenaire in Brussels, is among the most symbolic moments of his career.

The Belgian press has also taken an interest in this human and artistic adventure. Several media outlets have mentioned the role of this pyrotechnician from Jurbise in organizing the Brussels fireworks, notably La Dernière Heure and Sudinfo.

More recently, the channel RTL Belgique took its viewers behind the scenes of the preparation for the New Year’s Eve show in Brussels, illustrating the coordination work carried out by ARTEVENTIA teams.

Other international experiences have also marked his career, notably the Da Nang Festival in Vietnam, where pyrotechnicians are welcomed as true artists.

The importance of the site and the audience

For Jean-François Homerin, the success of a show depends as much on the location as on the technical setup.

A building, a historic square, or a natural landscape becomes a creative partner.

But the most important element remains the audience.

“What truly matters is that people are waiting for the show and that they are ready to experience something.”

Ultimately, the size of the event matters less than the intensity of the shared experience.

A collective artistic signature

In his eyes, ARTEVENTIA’s strength lies in its very precise way of constructing a show.

Rhythm, colors, music, and the clarity of the scenes: every detail is designed to tell a story.

“We always seek the right balance between technique, emotion, and simplicity.”

This standard is found as much in the artistic direction as in the technical organization of the projects.

Between tradition and new technologies

Like many pyrotechnicians today, Jean-François observes the industry’s evolution closely.

Hybrid shows blending light drones, lasers, and architectural lighting open new creative perspectives.

But these innovations also bring new challenges: regulatory constraints, environmental pressure, and evolving audience expectations.

For him, the future likely lies in an intelligent combination of these different technologies.

A deeply human adventure

Beyond the shows themselves, Jean-François Homerin emphasizes the importance of teamwork within ARTEVENTIA.

He particularly appreciates the organizational rigor and the collaborative atmosphere that characterize the company.

“We arrive at a project site knowing exactly what our plan is. That’s almost a luxury in this profession.”

A philosophy based on three values he readily associates with the firm:

Ambitious.
Rigorous.
Human.

The pride of a profession

When the show begins and the audience discovers the result, the feeling is always special.

The tension accumulated during weeks of preparation gives way to a mixture of relief and pride.

For Jean-François Homerin, this moment perfectly summarizes his profession:

“Creating fireworks and participating in moments that matter.”

This article is part of the ARTEVENTIA Team Portraits series, which highlights the women and men who design and produce our shows.

Jean-François Homerin
Project Manager Belgium — ARTEVENTIA
Pyrotechnician and designer of pyrotechnic shows.

Specialties:

• design of pyrotechnic shows

• musical composition

• international coordination

• project management in Belgium

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