Jean-François Fourtou's artistic practice is enriched by a rich bestiary: ants, bees, snails, turtles, and dogs are among the figures he enjoys portraying. By altering the scale of these animals, Jean-François Fourtou places them in unusual locations, allowing nature to reclaim its space. Inviting the public to see this fauna with a fresh perspective, simultaneously unsettling and absurd, the artist's oversized bees play with our perception of reality. They evoke the wonder of childhood, where everything seems disproportionately large. Through this characteristic work, Jean-François Fourtou creates a whimsical fairy tale world, conducive to daydreaming.
Born in 1964 in Paris, France, and now living and working in Marrakech, Morocco, Jean-François Fourtou is renowned for his unique animal sculptures and his unconventional and puzzling architectures such as "The Giant's House" and "The Upside-Down House." Since the late 2010s, his "Nanitos," fantastical and mischievous figures blurring the line between human and plant, have added to his strange, part-magical, part-memorial universe centered around themes of childhood.
By clicking on this link, you can access the video of the exhibition : https://youtu.be/LAQWG34VP6w