Gilles Boenisch is a contemporary French artist, designer and digital manufacturing expert with a PhD in Information Sciences & Communication from Lorraine University. In this interview he talks about art, the major artistic influences in his work, and what art means for him.
Art has always been a part of your life. When did you know you would become an artist?
I think I’ve always been. Every moment of my life. I have always evolved and taken an artistic activity. Only objects and tools have changed and evolved. I think the word “artist” is too strong, I feel more a “hacker”, a “handyman” or even a «creative builder».
Artistic influences come from the workplace
As a contemporary «creative builder», who influenced you the most?
I will say that they are my friends and family, who have always supported and encouraged my work. I think artisitc influences came not from a person but from the place where I work. A place always active, a micro-factory that goes beyond workshop, art and collection. A place where objects become source of inspiration: it should make multiple, enigmatic, unique, funny, magical…
How has your style evolved over time?
I do not really have a clear idea: more complex, bigger, more difficult to produce…
Every moment of my life, from childhood till today, I have always evolved and taken an artistic activity. The style has possibly changed since I can switch on a daily basis between artistic work, scientific research, and professional activity.
How do you combine design and digitalization in your artworks?
All my work combines traditional and digital work. Each item is produced using digital 2D printing, 3D printing, etching, laser cutting…
Your works of art are not what the general public might consider “the norm.” What style or school do you identify yourself with?
The title of my thesis was “Dismantling, diversion, derision. Digital defeat”. My work is like undo, to defeat, find a leak, get rid of, break, break the norms and technical paradigms of digital. But undo is especially disassemble, decompile, dismember, and divert exhaust better to abyss, and show derive from within the normative functioning.
The approach is to understand, open a dimension “other” than the user enslaves and indifferent to the underlying workings of the apparatus, have direct contact with internal organs, penetrate the heart of mechanisms cause a “melee” graft, use the machine as a visual language, try the least possible to use the machine language: become dis-assembly, experience from this “full of hidden things.” Finally, defeat also means victory, triumph, recovery, and monitoring recovery. Defeat is analyzed. Defeat is critical. Undo’s a game.
Your website motto is “Don’t fear art.” What do you mean by that?
For me, anyone can exercise his creative sense and everyone carries with them an artistic identity and his own artistic influences. I believe that one should never deny who they are, and not give up doing things that they love. Artistic recognition should not be a goal but rather a consecration: it is others who live and your works are the final judgment.
Are there any plans for future shows?
I work on a dozen simultaneous projects that are almost destined for creation calls scattered throughout the world. At the same time each work leads to the next, I try to keep a link or a recognizable thread. Make the world better, more sensitive and more creative, less obsessed with success and money. Produce global collaborative works with non-profit purpose.
In today’s digital world, how does an artist “survive”?
I am a consultant in digital e-business strategies, co-founder of FabDataLab® a creative and research network, founder of 3DPrintLab® structure and «specialized on engineering knowledge», «strategies and innovation» and «R&D @ Arts». I am currently working on CNC micro-machine prototypes for children, and a Big Data platform for 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
