Cyril Le Van

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French artist Cyril Le Van, born in 1970, uses photography in order to reproduce in real size and in 3 dimensions objects of everyday life. The objects he explores are symbols of social identities, of different groups people belong to, and of cultural features of our time. His work questions globalization, consumerism and their repercussions on society. Coincidence, or maybe not: Cyril Le Van’s year of birth corresponds to the year of publication of Jean Baudrillard’s major work The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures.

 

Cyril Le Van addresses mass consumerism through his photographs: he pictures all angles of Adidas T-shirts, Nike sneakers, Repetto shoes, Rolex watches or Vuitton bags, and prints the photographs on rigid canvas, then sewing and stapling them coarsely together.

 

A new object is thus created, fake and appealing at the same time. Le Van’s interrogation also questions the transfer of values: brands, symbols of our society, are slowly replacing profound human values. You spot through clothing, housing, car, who belongs to which group: brands become the leading light, the emblem that gives each and everyone his or her identity. Cyril le Van’s work functions as moderator, as a starting point that allows a reflection on our times.

 

Cyril Le Van exhibits in France, Europe and across the world in galleries and museums.