Annette Messager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annette Messager
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Annette Messager in June 2017 during the Festival international du livre d'art et du film
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| Born | 30 November 1943 Berck, France
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| Education | École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs |
| Known for | Visual art |
Annette Messager (born 30 November 1943) is a famous visual artist from France. She is known for using unusual art methods and materials. In 2005, she won the top Golden Lion Award at the Venice Biennale art show. In 2016, she received the important Praemium Imperiale International Arts Award. She lives and works in Malakoff, France.
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Biography
Annette Messager was born on 30 November 1943 in Berck-sur-Mer, France. Her father was a photographer and enjoyed painting. From 1962 to 1966, Annette studied art at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France. Her mother once entered one of Annette's photos in a Kodak contest. Annette won an art trip around the world! She was partners with the artist Christian Boltanski.
Career
Messager is famous for her art installations. These often mix photographs, prints, drawings, and many different materials. She likes to use everyday items and combine them in new ways. This is called bricolage. She often uses methods that were once seen as "feminine" in art.
Annette Messager found her unique art style in 1971. She saw a dead sparrow on a street in Paris. She felt it was important because it was small and fragile. This led her to create The Boarders (Les Pensionnaires) in 1972. This artwork used stuffed sparrows and helped start her career.
She has shown her art in many places and published books about it. In 2005, she represented France at the Venice Biennale. There, she won the Golden Lion award. Her art for the show was inspired by Pinocchio and turned the French building into a casino.
One of her well-known works is The Messengers. This art piece has different rooms with photos and toy animals. Some of these animals are hand-knitted and wear costumes. For example, some toys have different animal heads. This shows how people might change their look or identity with costumes.
In 2014, she made an installation called Les Interdictions. It combined puppet figures with 68 "no" signs from around the world. In 2023, one of her artworks, Mes voeux (avec nos cheveux), was used for the song "Playing For Time" by Peter Gabriel.
Inspirations
Annette Messager was born in France during World War II. Because of this, she was exposed to ideas about death at a young age. Death and the short time we have to live are big inspirations for her art.
Messager doesn't call herself a feminist. However, her art often explores how women can be themselves through small actions and private rituals. This is especially true in a world where men often have more power. She uses many different art techniques. These include knitting, taxidermy (preparing animal bodies), photography, and using labels and toys. She also creates soft sculptures and installations.
Images for kids
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Exhibition view of Annette Messager's installation Faire Parade at Zachęta Gallery, Warsaw 2010
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Annette Messager's Faire Parade exhibition at Zachęta Gallery, 2010
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Annette Messager in 2018, during the presentation of her exhibition in the IVAM.
