In this Orne college, a handyman artist transforms everyday objects

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Xavier Michel's exhibition transforms the spaces he inhabits through his work into a somewhat messy shambles, between workshop and laboratory. A exposition a bit of burlesque at the Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin college in Flers (Orne), where the artist creates magical illusions between visual art and living art. Xavier Michel is somewhere in between!

First, he experiments materials (plaster, resin, latex, silicone, expanding foam, etc.), secondly, the artist works on around ten functional objects which he transforms to move on to another performance.

Everyday objects or foods

For example: with one foot, Xavier Michel will move on to creating a very special pair of stilts. “It is the result of the molding of my feet into plantar flexion. Once shod, we only rest on the tips of the big toes,” describes the artist.

Xavier Michel works from objects or food everyday. In his works, he questions the absurd, the false, through fabrications or moldings using poor materials (plaster, tape, bathroom silicone, etc.), objects or foods everyday: bananas, avocados, latex gloves, cups…

His work is research-based. He then plays with the staging and creates visual stories from his creations. He also sometimes performs with them.

Interactive workshops

Marion Guergadic, professor librarian and culture referent from the college, received the artist to work with 6th and 3rd grade students, Friday November 29, 2024.

The De Visu system aims to put an art gallery in a school environment, and thus place la population environment in direct contact with the creation, notably contemporary of Xavier Michel, born in 1990. The artist lives and works between Rouen and Paris.

Five students from club media from the college welcomed the public after interacting with Xavier Michel. Class of 6^e E carried out a workshop in the presence of the artist and Vincent Trefeu, plastic arts teacher. An interactive workshop that will be evaluated for each student.

After reading the exhibition, the questions burst out: “Can you define several types of art? » asks Xavier Michel. “What is the difference between visual art and living art ? What will make an exhibition that we see artistic objects? or works of art? » And many other questions animated the class workshop. A free exhibition, open to all opening hours of college.

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