The artist Gzilépoc was in Perpignan for the opening of "Palais Petit."
On Wednesday, September 11, the Faculty of Education in Perpignan hosted the opening of "Petit palais," a work by visual artist Gzilépoc. This "archisculpture," a fusion of sculpture and architecture, was made from reused wood and co-designed with students.
Gzilépoc, an artist unlike any other
Since January 2024, visual artist Gzilépoc has been in residence at the Faculty of Education in Perpignan to create and install a piece in the campus outdoor spaces. His artist name refers to the xylocopa, better known as the "carpenter bee," which nests in dead wood, and to the acronym poc, meaning "little" in Catalan. For him, it is a way of connecting with a territory and a culture and bearing witness to the stories behind the pieces of wood.
“Everything that makes up the architecture in which students evolve does not refer to any material experience of reality. By getting their hands dirty, they reclaim this part of reality, experience it, the experience of construction, and in fact project themselves intimately into their newly reincarnated environment,”says artist Gzilépoc.
Palais petit, a collective and participatory work
Installed on campus, this work is the result of close collaboration with students throughout the various stages of design and construction. This "archisculpture," named Palais Petit, served as the basis for experimental art workshops, whose contributions were directly incorporated into the structure of the work. Inspired by the reflections of Nicolas Bourriaud (French exhibition curator, art historian, novelist, and art critic) on "relational aesthetics," Palais Petit aims to connect its users, both in the present moment and across future generations of students.
The challenges of an artist residency at university
The artist residency is a public policy tool made possible by interministerial partnerships. It supports contemporary creation and contributes to the humanistic education of students. It encourages openness, discovery, reflection, and questioning through arts and culture. It offers reference points for better understanding the world today and contributes to the success and fulfillment of students and staff by promoting and encouraging their amateur artistic practices. It invites everyone to reflect on their own representations, while stimulating aesthetic experiences and creating spaces conducive to exchange and debate.
