Behind Dawa's clever smile lies a desire for challenges. This mosaic restorer, also a creator, living in Dinan for more than a year, had a crazy idea: that of making a book entirely out of mosaic. “We did research to find out if there were others, but I think we are the only ones in the world to have done this,” explains the fifty-year-old.
The genesis of this project dates back a decade. “About ten years ago, I wanted to make a comic strip like that, but it didn’t happen. » Dawa then puts this project in a drawer and goes about other activities. Then the subject returns to the table, prompted by his companion. “I like this kind of challenge. »
35h for one page
He then finds a theme for his representations: it will be the head of Zeus. He draws the god of Olympus carried by different influences, from Antiquity to pop culture. He then transfers the facial features onto wooden boards. This is where the magic happens: equipped with tweezers, glasses on his nose, he sticks the mosaic one by one. “You have to be meticulous. »
At the end of this painstaking work and several weeks of labor, a work weighing approximately 15kg emerged, in a format of 35cm by 35cm. “There are two cover pages for a total of eight pages of mosaics,” explains the artist. They are linked together with stainless steel to look like an old grimoire. » Today, the book is for sale, with a certificate of origin issued by an auctioneer. “I wanted it to be finished before Christmas. I'm even thinking of putting it in the auction room. »
From shield to move
At the same time, the artist is working on two other projects. At the start of the year, he decided to propose a work to the best worker in France. “Discussing with friends, I decided to make an Achilles shield, I still have the gilding to do. So far, I must have worked 400 hours on it. »
Its other project concerns its establishment in Dinan. After a year and a half in the halls of La Cohue, he packed his bags at the end of December. “We are going to set up in April 2025 in a gallery on rue du Petit-Fort. It's a new adventure. »
Although his book is now finished, Dawa is already thinking about another challenge: completely covering a motorcycle with mosaic. “It might take a while,” he says, still with his clever smile.
Practical: 06 71 84 89 42. On Instagram, dawa.lebreton. Website: mozaiquededawa.fr
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