Eltono

Eltono - Randomized Tours. Pointe de la Presqu'île de Caen 10

Technique: Acrylic on board

Artist Biography: French artist Eltono (b. 1975) has spent the last ten years working in Madrid, four years in Beijing and now resides in the south of France. Known as a stubborn flâneur and a chronic observer, Eltono has used public space as his support, studio and inspiration for years. His sensitivity to what is happening around him and his deep understanding of the unpredictable and capricious nature of the street are the main tools he uses to create artworks.Eltono has made his mark in more than 90 cities around the world, intervening in the streets and showing his work in renowned museums and galleries, such as the Tate Modern and Somerset House in London, the Miró Foundation in Barcelona and the Artium museum in Vitoria. For the past twelve years, his work in galleries has focused on finding solutions to the dilemma of exhibiting public art in private spaces.

 

The "Pavillon", the site of the artistic residence is located at the tip of the peninsula of Caen. It is a particularly interesting territory, surrounded by water (by the Bassin St. Pierre, the Caen à la mer canal, the Orne river and the Victor Hugo canal) and in addition, it is in full urban restructuring and alternates modern constructions, old factories, abandoned buildings, designed green areas and vacant lots. An open space, well defined and suitable for random wandering. For the exercise, Eltono chose 23 points in key places of the territory (corners of buildings, crossroads and corners). The system to follow was as follows: walk from one point to the next, always choosing the next point at random. The route started at point no. 1, passed through 10 points and ended again at point no. 1. The result of each route was materialized in laser-cut wood thanks to the help of the local Fablab in the Dôme. Finally, they have been painted and exhibited in the Pavillon hall. Eltono personally traced 11 routes while 6 were traced by the participants of a workshop with the Fablab. Each sculpture represents a journey of 30 to 40 minutes and a distance of 2 to 3 km.