"Gzav" has bowed out

On his motorcycle, he would cruise the island's roads, his little dog "Hell's" peacefully sitting in front of the handlebars, sunglasses perched on his snout and ears blowing in the wind. A scene that is now a thing of the past. On Saturday, February 14, Xavier Rémy, better known by his pseudonym Gzav, passed away after a long illness. This is sad news for those who had the pleasure of knowing Gzav "Rock'n Roll" during his many years living in Saint Barthélemy. In his own way, he embodied a different way of life on the island, one of kindness, joy, and tranquility.

Le Journal de Saint-Barth was fortunate to count Gzav among its contributors. Between 2007 and 2014, the newspaper published Gzav's drawings every week. His pencil strokes invited readers to immerse themselves in current events through the misadventures and reflections of a turtle, a pelican, and an iguana. Intensive construction (even back then), rents, the cost of living, low walls, mosquitoes—nothing was off limits. It was with great sadness that the JSB learned of the death of Gzav, who exercised his talents as an artist on paper but also as a gardener at Kikuyu for twenty years. Many people have expressed their affection for him online.
As he wished, his ashes will be scattered in the Vosges, his region of origin, but also in Saint-Barthélemy, where he arrived at the age of 18. This was Gzav's wish because it was in Saint-Barth that he lived the longest. A ceremony will be held in early April in the presence of his sisters.
The JSB invites you to revisit some of Gzav's drawings published in the newspaper.