Joanathan Bessaci, Lucca Biennale Paper and Cardboard Artist

Immediately’s Artist Highlight options the cardboard sculpture and paper cuttings of Joanathan Bessaci, a French artist primarily based in Washington, D.C. His work is on show on the revered Lucca Biennale Cartasia, underway in Tuscany, Italy by September 29, 2024. I requested Joanathan to inform us concerning the exceptional expertise of being a selected participant.

At 44, with
greater than 23 years of expertise, Lucca represents a turning level for
me: both the top of my profession or a renewal. Over 24 days, I created a
monumental piece titled “The Leap of Need: The Quest of the Squirrel,”
linked to the theme “Right here and Now: Tomorrow,” which resonates with my
fixed feeling of an absence of time.

For this work, I used a sizzling
glue gun, a cutter, and a ruler. The workshop, a former market corridor of
over a thousand sq. meters, imposed a sustained rhythm on me, with
nine-hour days with out breaks, apart from half-hour reserved for consuming
and observing my work.

My sculpting methodology could be very private and
consists of three steps: I create a construction from strips of cardboard
with out fastened proportions, the whole lot is completed by eye. For this piece, I
added an inside steel construction for stability, primarily based on the size
of my mannequin. Then, I cowl the work with cardboard, reinforce the
construction, and add colours and messages from coloured cardboard. For the
first time, I needed to waterproof my work so it might keep exterior for
three months.

This problem was important: making a sculpture
over 5 meters excessive and greater than 6 meters lengthy in lower than 210 hours.
Ultimately, I noticed that this work represents me. I’m like this
playful and hyperactive animal. I found that I used to be not alone in
affected by loneliness and that I had discovered friendship, love, and
help. 

The bonds shaped in the course of the Biennale are robust, as we fought
our personal limits and labored collectively to attain this problem. I discovered my
place and found a brand new world that I intend to discover additional.
Beforehand, I labored solely with artwork galleries, however now I need to
take part in competitions and residencies, meet different artists and
fanatics. 

I need to present who I’m, reveal the artist in me, share my
expertise, and talk my love for my artwork, this ardour that drives me.” 

4 of Joanathan’s advanced, layered Michelin highway map papercuttings are additionally on show. This side of his artwork was featured beforehand on All Issues Paper. 

Joanathan’s web site is bessaci.com. He’s on Instagram, @joanathan.bessaci.