Jean-Baptiste Janisset

Jean-Baptiste Janisset develops his artistic practice with an eye turned toward post-colonial history. He explores cities in Europe and Africa (Senegal, Algeria, Gabon, Benin…) in search of “Witnesses” of past events. Sculpted or animal-shaped representations carved in stone or wood, heraldry, coats of arms, and statues: he scours the public space for an ensemble of “objects” that seem to him like they document fluctuations in various domains (political, religious…) of specific societies. Once this scouting is over, Jean-Baptiste Janisset creates direct castings of the chosen items. These “Revelations” produce a moment of enchantment, a ritual that transcends and transfigures the moulded object. The casts are later used in sculptures and installations. For the artist, these “Stigmata” are as much a part of the creative act as his search for “witnesses” and his “revelatory” ritual. In this sense, his practice is as much a matter of sculpture as of performance and serendipity.