Le Bestiaire

The exhibition curated by Ionna Vautrin at Biennale de Saint Etienne gives children the chance to slip into the skin of all kinds of animals, from the very tame to the very wild.

When we dress up, regardless of whether we become beautiful or ugly, good or bad, marvellous or monstrous, everyone gets into character and is excused of all odd behaviour, without being subject to ridicule.

The animal kingdom is amazing and rouses the imaginations of young and old alike. Many designers have explored the world of childhood through this unifying theme. They transform everyday objects referencing zoological world. Could it be the desire to tame wild animals that propels designers to represent fierce creatures as docile pets?

Top: Studio Brichet Ziegler, Snail Gary. Above, left: Perrine Vigneron and Gilles Belley, Cock Coq Hardy. Right: Felipe Ribon, Fieldmouse Ratatouille

Creating their own imaginary zoo, fourteen artists came up with abstract, unexpected or hyper realistic animals. These stunning costumes are born out of the graphical fantasies of an eclectic team comprising Studio Brichet Ziegler, Perrine Vigneron and Gilles Belley, Louise de Saint Angel, Anne Lutz, Joachim Jirou-Najou, Felipe Ribon, Les Graphiquants, Twice, Helkarava, Bonnefrite, Malika Favre, Amélie Fontaine, Leslie David and Ionna Vautrin.

 Using the creatures in the exhibition as inspiration, an associated workshop offers children to imagine their own creature on a blank costume. Dreamed up by Amélie Doistau and Tomöe Sugiura, this graphics laboratory is inspired by the forms, colours and patterns of existing animals.

<b>Left</b>: Anne Lutz, Fox Messieurs. <b>Right</b>: Bonnefrite, Imaginary Animal Drac
<b>Left</b>: Ionna Vautrin, Jellyfish Cubozoa. <b>Right</b>: Helkarava, Leopard Leo Parciparla
<b>Left</b>: Louise de Saint Angel, Orangutan Pango. <b>Right</b>: Twice, Panda Yoio
<b>Left</b>: Amélie Fontaine, Parrot Perroquet . <b>Right</b>: Malika Favre, Raccoon Eugen
<b>Left</b>: Leslie David, Yeti Grizzyeti. <b>Right</b>: Les Graphiquants, Zebra Al Zebre_