“journeys through headdresses” 2020…
“journey of Headdresses” 2020…
Since the beginning of my artistic career, I have been interested in the question of myths, magical and shamanic universes, both as a visual artist and as an ethnologist. Thus my DNSEP thesis at the HEAR in Strasbourg, “La boîte noire, Art et chamanisme” (The Black Box, Art and Shamanism) dealt with the links between artists and shamans (from Iran, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, etc.)
Many of my exhibitions are based on myths and symbols, and I collect a lot of ethnic clothing. Clothes and headdresses are a great source of inspiration in my drawings; I believe that ethnic clothes are not only a garment for the body but can be read, like a book which, through the embroidery, symbols, shapes and colours, tells the history and beliefs of a people.
In my artistic work, I mix ethnic clothing from different cultures and design headdresses inspired by real folkloric headdresses, in a design that is both theatrical and mystical. I love to tell stories and I am fascinated by art as a means of storytelling.
This new project “Journeys through headdresses” is a continuation of this exploration of symbols and narration. It is a photographic project featuring the headdresses I make, inspired by traditional Asian headdresses.
The headdresses I create respect the authenticity of traditional codes, to which I add a personal touch. Wearing ethnic costumes, I face the camera and create a theatrical scene to tell the mythical origin of the headdress.
Each one is ethnologically researched to reveal the meaning behind the form; these headdresses are all rich in symbolism as they cover the head, considered the most important part of the body and a symbol of intelligence. These objects give an important value to the head that wears it.
In this series of photographs, I try to present these new forms of ethnic headdresses and to initiate a journey through dress, as Leon Bakst did.
Bakst, a great painter, who was also a costume designer and decorator for the Ballets Russes.
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