www.laurenttixador.com
Tixador's practice is focused on projects that he undertakes with everything he has. He was clear to point out that he doesn't consider himself to make work in order to provoke a reaction from the viewer, but rather simply put, he relates his practice and his work to himself. His experience means more to him than the idea of provocation and there is something admirable in the way he allows the viewer to see his thoughts and how he lives. Yet while he comments on his own experience, he also comments on human nature in general.
The projects that Tixador undertakes are for one time only, he never repeats himself or goes back to the same place or idea, which means he is able to surprise himself each time and learn something new about himself. As he said himself, "there is a new laurant each time I come home".
Examples of projects:
- Tixador lived on an island as a caveman for 10 days, where he adopted the caveman lifestyle. He had to live there and make everything he needed as well as find his own food and spend time in isolation. He also did many "cave paintings" that mainly focused on food, such as M&Ms.
- "L'inconnu des Grands Horizons"
Tixador walked in straight line with no compass and no maps. He commented on the unusual paths and new landscapes that he came across, just by walking as far as he could without adhering to any roads or paths already constructed. What was interesting was the idea of a private view that Tixador and his friend managed to see of the countryside, what they experienced and came across is usually never seen by the majority of us who stick to the main, easy paths.
- Another challenge that Tixador undertook was a tunnel project that again lasted for 10 days. He built a tunnel construction out of planks of wood that held up a dug out tunnel in the ground. There he lived with a friend and documented each and every moment with video cameras. As you can see from the image below, the sense of claustrophia must have been intense, as well as the uncomfortable existence living out of rucksacks and in a self made shed/mud hut.
After the project is over, Tixador also exhibits work as sort of an ending to the project. In my opinion it makes the gallery space look like a museum, with the tools and materials shown to the viewer in a variety of ways. Tixador claimed that he wanted the exhibition to become more of a workshop, where he could present a variety of nicknacks collected from the project. It also enabled him to reflect upon the experience and go over what he went through. I found this way of exhibiting the projects kind of morbid and boring, it put me off Tixador's work completely and I found my mind drifting, let alone if I had actually been at the exhibition. It seemed to me that video documentation or a journal or photographs could capture the experience but still left enough of a divide with the materials that I would be interested in it. I hate museums.
My favourite project that he undertook was one where he and a friend camped at the top of a very high skyscraper for two weeks. The only way to there and back was by helicopter which meant that they were completely isolated from the city around them. This, coupled with the high altitude, created a kind of parallel world. On one level they were surrounded by life and the busy hectic city scenes. Yet on another, they were alien and divided from that world, up above on this quite concrete square having a camping trip.
Tixador's practice is focused on projects that he undertakes with everything he has. He was clear to point out that he doesn't consider himself to make work in order to provoke a reaction from the viewer, but rather simply put, he relates his practice and his work to himself. His experience means more to him than the idea of provocation and there is something admirable in the way he allows the viewer to see his thoughts and how he lives. Yet while he comments on his own experience, he also comments on human nature in general.
The projects that Tixador undertakes are for one time only, he never repeats himself or goes back to the same place or idea, which means he is able to surprise himself each time and learn something new about himself. As he said himself, "there is a new laurant each time I come home".
Examples of projects:
- Tixador lived on an island as a caveman for 10 days, where he adopted the caveman lifestyle. He had to live there and make everything he needed as well as find his own food and spend time in isolation. He also did many "cave paintings" that mainly focused on food, such as M&Ms.
- "L'inconnu des Grands Horizons"
Tixador walked in straight line with no compass and no maps. He commented on the unusual paths and new landscapes that he came across, just by walking as far as he could without adhering to any roads or paths already constructed. What was interesting was the idea of a private view that Tixador and his friend managed to see of the countryside, what they experienced and came across is usually never seen by the majority of us who stick to the main, easy paths.
- Tixador also lived in a cellar for 3 weeks. This appeared to be his most challenging project as he began to feel his mind closing in on him. He felt like he went mad; his mental parameters were shifted due to the fact that he couldn't move much within the cellar. He was locked away in a cold, dank room and left to exist. I found this project the most uncomfortable to hear about due to the fact that a similar experience would frighten me and I'm not sure I could have coped. Tixador spent his time drawing on the walls and floors, with everything he thought about being documented through his graffiti. He even ended up drawing a face on a spoon to make himself feel less alone. I liked the idea of graffiti showing every little thought he had, like a journal so to speak.*
- Another challenge that Tixador undertook was a tunnel project that again lasted for 10 days. He built a tunnel construction out of planks of wood that held up a dug out tunnel in the ground. There he lived with a friend and documented each and every moment with video cameras. As you can see from the image below, the sense of claustrophia must have been intense, as well as the uncomfortable existence living out of rucksacks and in a self made shed/mud hut.
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