View of Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut's exhibition © Bruno Pellarin. Courtesy of the artist & BASTOK LESSEL
BASTOK LESSEL is pleased to announce their first solo exhibition by Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut, entitled Eden.
In this exhibition, the multidisciplinary artist, designer and architect takes over every corner of the gallery, offering visitors an immersive journey through its four levels.
Growing up in the forest of Fontainebleau, Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut develops a deep bond with nature from an early age. He establishes his studio there, drawing inspiration and energy from the forest, which he then transposes into each of his works. He collects the smallest fossilized tree trunks, sacrificial pieces of bark or abandoned branches, to transform into "landscape furniture", giving them a second life.
Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut's practice revolves around shaping wood in its most authentic state, capturing the raw and primitive essence of the forest. Each piece is unique, carved with a sharp blade to ensure perfect cuts.
In his studio, populated by "Sculpture" benches, "Echelle" bookcases, "Cité radieuse" toy chests and "Fétiche" handcrafted chairs, he seeks for precision and simplicity of form.
This exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in an enchanted interlude, with the artist telling a story on each floor. The journey starts with a Sculpture Garden, leading up to a Cabinet of Curiosities, through an Architect's Office, to finally reach the genesis of his work - a tree house ‘Cabane’ - inspired by the Thousand and One Nights.
The tree house occupies a central place in Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut's oeuvre. He builds “Cabanes” in a monumental manner and imagines it as an ephemeral refuge through the eyes of a child. Imagination and childhood are deeply rooted themes in Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut's work, creating a striking contrast between the softness and apparent intensity of the wood.
Strongly influenced by the great masters such as Constantin Brancusi and Isamu Noguchi, as well as by the artistic traditions of African and Oceanian tribal art, Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut creates mobiles, totem figures, masks and Okibo seats, testifying to the richness and diversity of his artistic practice.
Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut's work is imbued with authenticity, truth and honesty. Through this exhibition, he offers a unique sensorial experience, inviting viewers to plunge into a universe where the authenticity and beauty of nature, as well as the richness of cultures, are celebrated with respect and admiration.
