French Artist David Mesguich Places Sculptures of Large Heads in Public Places

September 4, 2013  |   Feature,   World
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Brussels-based artist David Mesguich’s installations bring a new dimension to unauthorized public art.
Brussels-based artist David Mesguich’s installations bring a new dimension to unauthorized public art.

“Paint, paste, and stencil-wielding creative types who use the urban fabric as their canvas are having a heyday,” recently reported Jordan Kuskins of GIZMODO. “Folks like Shephard Fairey, Bansky, and a whole host of others have had feature films, major gallery shows, and endless internet posts chronicling—and celebrating—their efforts. These still-illicit works often only exist as 2D forms on walls, gracing the sides of buildings, billboards, or any flat space in the concrete jungle.”

Brussels-based artist David Mesguich’s installations bring a new dimension to unauthorized public art. The artist’s inspiration came from the decade he spent ‘trespassing with graffiti,’ ‘3D real-time arcade games,’ and family links to gangs and organized crime. (Mesguich now does talks at French jails and collaborates with prisoners to realize site-specific pieces.)

Mesguich's faceted humanoids, made from recycled plastic sheets, range in scale from a realistically-sized figure to a monumental head.
Mesguich’s faceted humanoids, made from recycled plastic sheets, range in scale from a realistically-sized figure to a monumental head.
David Mesquich creates large sculptures made of polypropylene (rugged, resistant polymer) sheets or recycled plastic. The often 3 to 4 meters ( 9 to 13 feet) sculptures are placed in public space.
David Mesquich creates large sculptures made of polypropylene (rugged, resistant polymer) sheets or recycled plastic. The often 3 to 4 meters ( 9 to 13 feet) sculptures are placed in public space.
Artist David Mesquich has realized a monumental on-site sculpture of a female head, geometrically abstracted to be a polygonal form. Made of recycled plastic, 'pressure' was folded into its final shape, then intertwined with a gated fence. The model's prismatic structure refracts light and casts dramatic shadows on its surroundings.
Artist David Mesquich has realized a monumental on-site sculpture of a female head, geometrically abstracted to be a polygonal form. Made of recycled plastic, ‘pressure’ was folded into its final shape, then intertwined with a gated fence. The model’s prismatic structure refracts light and casts dramatic shadows on its surroundings.

After being shown for week at La Friche de la Belle de Mai in Marseille, France, and with support from Backside Gallery (Marseille, France), Mesguich brought his sculpture to the city streets to see how it would interact in an urban environment.

original (6) copy

The artist chose an elevated freeway, the vehicle entrance point of Marseille, where the geometric lady could watch over the whole city while gazing across the sea towards Africa at the same time.
The artist chose an elevated freeway, the vehicle entrance point of Marseille, where the geometric lady could watch over the whole city while gazing across the sea towards Africa at the same time.