Matthieu Laurette facts for kids

Matthieu Laurette is a French artist born in 1970 in Villeneuve Saint Georges, France. He creates modern art using many different things. This includes TV, videos, and art installations. He also does public art projects. Laurette lives and works in several big cities around the world. These cities include Paris, Amsterdam, and New York City.

Who is Matthieu Laurette?

Matthieu Laurette explores how art connects with everyday life. He looks at things like TV, shopping, and even how countries work. His art often makes people think about society and how things are organized.

Early Life and His Art Ideas

In 2003, Matthieu Laurette won the Ricard Prize. This award is given to a top French artist under 40 years old. Laurette uses different ways to show his art. He mixes ideas from conceptual art (art based on ideas) and Pop art (art inspired by popular culture). He also looks at how art fits into society and the economy.

Some of his most famous works include:

• Apparitions (1993-ongoing)
• Money-back Products (1991–2001)
• Citizenship Project (1996-ongoing)
• El Gran Trueque (2000)
• Déjà vu, The International Look-alike Conventions (2000-ongoing)

Art on TV: His "Apparitions"

In 1993, Laurette made his first "Apparition" on TV. He appeared on a French game show called Tournez manège (like The Dating Game). When asked who he was, he said: "A multimedia artist." He even invited art fans to watch him on TV from their homes.

Since then, Laurette has appeared on many TV shows. He calls these appearances "Apparitions." This word means both "ghostly sight" and "showing up." He has been on shows like La Grande famille and the news programs Journal de 13h and Journal de 20h in France.

A Message on The Today Show

In 2004, Laurette made a special "Apparition" on The Today Show in New York. This show is broadcast outdoors in Rockefeller Plaza. Among all the signs held by the audience, Laurette held a pink sign that said: "GUY DEBORD IS SO COOL!" This was his way of making people think about mass media.

Free Shopping: "Money-back Products"

From 1993 to 2001, Laurette had a unique way of shopping. He used a marketing trick called "Satisfied or your money back." He would buy products and then get a full refund. This meant he could get food and cleaning supplies for free!

He became famous in France for this project. In 1997, he was on the French national news. A newspaper called Le Monde even had a headline about him: "Tomorrow we will eat for free." Later, newspapers in the UK called him "The Freebie King."

Moneyback Life! at the Venice Biennale

In 2001, Laurette was invited to the 49th Venice Biennale, a big art show. There, he presented Moneyback Life!. This was a large art display. It included big copies of newspaper articles about him. There was also a truck with a TV wall showing clips of his TV appearances. A life-size wax figure of Laurette pushed a shopping cart full of his "money-back products."

The "Citizenship Project"

Laurette also started the "Citizenship Project." In this project, he tries to get as many different nationalities as possible. He asks for money and legal help through donation boxes in museums. He also uses websites to ask for support.

At the Venice Biennale in 2001, he made an interesting offer. He told countries that were not part of the exhibition that he would help them join. In return, they would have to give him citizenship.

The "Great Exchange" TV Game

In 2000, Laurette created his own TV game show called El Gran Trueque (The Great Exchange). This show was produced by Consonni. It offered TV viewers in Bilbao, Spain, a chance to trade items. Laurette started by offering a car. The person who made the best offer for the car would get it. Then, the item they traded would be offered for exchange the next week. This went on for several months. The game ended with a set of six blue glasses that no one wanted to trade for.

Famous Look-Alikes: "Déjà vu" Conventions

Laurette organizes fun events called "Déjà vu - International Look-Alike Conventions." At these events, people who look like famous stars mix with the art crowd. You might see look-alikes of Jennifer Aniston, Sean Connery, or Angelina Jolie.

These events happen at art openings and parties. They have been held in many places around the world. These include the Dia Art Foundation in New York, the Institute of Contemporary Art in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.