Sculpture (MA)
Marc-Aurèle Debut
Marc-Aurèle Debut (b.1990) is a French artist working and living in London, uk.
Education :
2018-2020 Royal College of Art. Sculpture MA. London, UK
2011-2015 Central Saint Martins. Fine Art BA. London, UK
2010-2011 Parsons Paris School of Art. Foundation year. Paris, France
2008-2010 UFR Santé, Medical school. Besançon, France
Solo shows :
2020 Coitus : a mini-retrospective - The Gallery House. London, UK
2019 Lovestruck - The Koppel Project. London, UK
2019 Up&Down - Shipment. Bermondsey. London, UK
2018 Tumescence - Many Hands. The Biscuit Factory, London, UK
Selected group exhibitions :
2019 Biennale de Paname II - La Maison Rouge, Paris, FR
2019 Material Connections - The Koppel Project, London, UK
2019 Design Without - Dyson Gallery, UK
2019 KIN at Gallery Weekend - Mitte, Berlin, DE
2018 Many Hands - The Biscuit Factory, London, UK
2018 Atelier de Paname - Espace Basfroi, Paris, FR
2018 Garden of Skin - Angus-Huges Gallery, London UK
2018 KIN Berlin - Rummelsburg, Berlin, DE
2017 Biennale de Paname I - Espace Commines, Paris, FR
2017 Modern Panic V - Apiary Studios, Hackney, London, UK
2017 Hell Is Other People - 100 Chambers Street, Tribeca, New York, US
2017 Module Units - Welcome Collection, London, UK
Award :
2019 Many Hands Bermondsey Contemporary Young Artist Award
Publications :
Paulette Magazine, Autumn 2019, Paris, FR
Biennale de Paname catalogue 2019, Paris, FR
Atelier de Paname catalogue 2018, Paris FR
Biennale de Paname catalogue 2017, Paris FR
Bouverie Mews Mag, Spring 2016, London UK
The Internal Human Being and its reactions to the environment constitute my main source of inspiration and study. I explore the cultural and psychological complexities of sexuality, body language, human anatomy and its physiology. Particularly the emotional state of an individual when one reacts to the structural and environmental influences of an object or towards another human being.
My work influences the viewers in their perception and emotions, encourages them to move in space and to question themselves on the tangible limits of the artwork. I use a range of materials in my sculpture practice such as fabric, latex, foam, silicon and harder materials like wood, glass, plexiglas and metal. It is during my final year at RCA that I aspired to expand my practice with new technology such as Virtual Reality, 3D modelling, 3D printing and 3D scanning.
My final artwork ‘Emovere’ is a work in progress due to COVID 19 as we haven’t had access to RCA studios or workshops to collect and finish works since March 2020. The headpiece ‘Emovere’ seen below is a prototype. The work was supposed to be re-printed in clear resin then exhibited during the Degree Show, available to viewers to try it on themselves. However, during isolation, the ways I wished of exhibiting the headpiece evolved to different mediums. Specifically in a form of a live performance including performers wearing the mask and emotionally reacting towards one another on a sound piece I produced in lockdown.
Emovere, 2020 — Designed in Virtual Reality with Gravity Sketch software.
Emovere, 2020 — Designed in Virtual Reality with Gravity Sketch software.
Emovere, 2020 — Designed in Virtual Reality with Gravity Sketch software.
Emovere, 2020 — Designed in Virtual Reality with Gravity Sketch software.
Emovere, 2020 — Designed in Virtual Reality with Gravity Sketch software.
Emovere, 2020 — 3D body scan. As guidance in Gravity Sketch VR software, a 3D scan of my body was essential to virtually draw the mask so it would fit on my head.
Emovere, 2020 — 3D body scan. As guidance in Gravity Sketch VR software, a 3D scan of my body was essential to virtually draw the mask so it would fit on my head.
Emovere, 2020 — 3D body scan. As guidance in Gravity Sketch VR software, a 3D scan of my body was essential to virtually draw the mask so it would fit on my head.
Emotions stem from neurotransmitters such as dopamine, acetylcholine, damma-aminobutyric acid and serotonin secreted in the Limbic system of our brain. In the Limbic system, the amygdala is the main structure involved with the processing of the emotions, memories, and motivation.
In theatre, comedy and tragedy masks are used to help the actors portray their emotions.
'Emovere' headpiece does not interpret recognizable facial expressions or a specific emotion just as theatre masks do but represent the origin of emotions itself, how these are controlled and regulated in the brain.
'Emovere' represents a 3D anatomy analysis of a horizontal plan of the brain, its Limbic system and its prefrontal cortex.
The upper arch of the mask represents the human frontal skull bone, the smaller arch represents the prefrontal cortex (CPF). The vertical cylindrical line, used here as nose support for the mask, is the horizontal flux that connects the CPF to the lambic system called the Cingulate gyrus. The center to lower part loop represents the Limbic system with its neural connections through hypothalamus, thalamus, hippocampus down to the amygdala in the center and lower part of the brain. The amygdala is represented as the lowest and forward part of the mask. The curved lines on each side represent the lobes of the brain.
The most compatible artistic process to materialize these intangible emotions into a physical object was for me to build it virtually with Virtual Reality and 3D print it.
The contemporary approach of this work is the update in the making and the meaning of traditional, theatre and ancient masks using new technologies. The variation here is also not to use the traditional wearing system of a mask, instead to innovate with a mask based on the nose and the ears like a pair of glasses or face shield.
The height of the mask is 15 cm, which is the approximate length of an average human brain.
Medium:
Designed in Virtual Reality with Gravity Sketch softwareSize:
8 images
Emovere, 2020 — 3D printed headpiece prototype. Final headpiece to be 3D printed in clear resin.
Emovere, 2020 — 3D printed headpiece prototype. Final headpiece to be 3D printed in clear resin.
Emovere, 2020 — 3D printed headpiece prototype.
Emovere, 2020 — 3D printed headpiece prototype.
Emovere, 2020 — 3D printed headpiece prototype.
Emovere, 2020 — 3D printed headpiece prototype.
Final head piece to be 3D printed in clear resin.
'Emovere' is a work in progress due the consequences of Covid 19.
Students haven’t had access to RCA studios or workshops to collect and finish works since March 2020.
Medium:
3D printed headpiece prototype. Final headpiece to be 3D printed in clear resin.Size:
15 x 13,5 x 17 cm
Emovere, 2020 — Emovere AR face experience, screenshots of final AR app.
While in lockdown, I created an Augmented Reality experience so viewers can download and virtually experience the mask on themselves.
However the RCA 2020 website does not support the AR experience format.
Here screenshots of final AR app and first test on device demo video of the 'Emovere' AR face experience.
Medium:
Augmented RealitySize:
3 images & 13 sec video.The proposal for a future exhibition would be a live performance of a group of dancers wearing the mask and emotionally reacting to one another on the theme of the origin, the control and the regulation of emotions.
The performers would dance on 'Emovere' sound piece that I produced during lockdown.
A rhythmic sound piece inspired by the intricate brain signals. Bass and low pitched sounds intend to stimulate specific part of the brain. Sounds of machinery evoke the brain working like a machine and manufacturing emotions. Electronic and glitch sounds refer to the neurotransmitters coding information throughout the brain.
Sound piece to listen with headphones or sound system for an immersive experience.