“People prefer pain, they like to suffer”

Maurice Franco

He says “Our life on earth is just a dream” and that we are asleep in heaven.

46-year old Maurice Franco was born in Camperdown but has been associated with Newtown since he was a child.

He is living just next to the Newtown Train Station at a friend’s place.

“My friend owns this house, but that is not the point. I’ve learned to let go, the universe takes care of me.”

Whoever talks to Maurice quickly realizes the magic of his charisma.

People walking on King Street might have seen him or his work before: Maurice is painting pictures for a living, always outside on King Street. If he is not around his displayed works of art call the people’s attention – and his name and mobile number on a sheet of paper lying at the street in front of one of his paintings.

Painting divine reality: Maurice Franco

“I paint divine reality, the absolute truth of what is and of what we are all made of”, he says, pointing his finger to one of his colorful pictures. “It is explosion. I paint explosions of joy, of life.” His pictures are meant to be symbols for the quality of what people are on the inside, they symbolize orgasms. “The orgasm smashes all establishments. […] It’s about spirit, our sensual selves. We are the glory of creation”, he says. His paintings reflect his spiritual view of life. “The world is a prison for us. Everyone is holding his energy back. People aren’t happy, everyone is unhappy. […] People prefer pain, they like to suffer”, pointing out that unfortunately most people aren’t aware of that and limit themselves. A pretty bold theory. “People don’t want to get to the point of joy. [...] They simply don’t want it.” Or maybe can’t imagine to break out of society the way he did.

Maurice, himself, found the truth. It was a long-lasting process. “It all started when I was 16”, he says. He did a few psychotherapy workshops, 21 ten-day meditation retreats, where one meditates 10 hours per day in silence and spent five years at the Endeavor Academy in Wisconsin, which is run by the New Christian Church in the States. “My life is fucking awesome now”, he says with a smile on his face and gleam in his eyes. “It’s all about self knowledge, about knowing who you are. The truth of what you are right now. That is joy beyond believe.”