We just want to have fun!

The Works of Mélanie Bourget

Mélanie Bourget: Rock On

In a recent BBC interview, American singer and actress Barbara Streisand declared that "She hasn't had much fun in her life". With a varied career spanning six decades, it was surprising to learn that a woman who would appear to have it all struggled to schedule regular fun into her life. Equally astonishing, she identifies simple pleasures to address the imbalance and introduce joy.

This honest omission sheds light on how we all can respond to life. Hearing this was a reminder of how art can give us such pleasures.

A French artist who naturally encapsulates fun in her works is Mélanie Bourget. Her sculptures are an exploration of human expression. With great skill, she creates figurative pieces in a contemporary yet offbeat style. Her art conjures feelings of fun and joy. The characters are gregarious, often with a flirty energy that reminds you of people you may encounter that make you want to laugh and be around.

Mélanie Bourget: Diva Rant

Eccentric hairstyles, textures, tattoos and patterns are composed into vibrant busts. From the charming to the outrageous, Mélanie's figures oscillate between realism and fantasy with characters that spark a deeply emotive response from the viewer.

Mélanie says,

"She thinks of her mysterious characters as poetic, fragile creatures that transmit deep feelings. Through her art, they come alive, and through the cracks of their glaze, we see the human soul".

The intended surface cracks illustrate life's fragility and support the notion of living in the moment. Her figures are finished with a technique called Raku to give this crackled effect. Originally from Korea, the process was further developed in the 16th century in Japan.

Mélanie gives enormous pleasure with the sculptural muses she creates. It prompts us to bring more joy into our lives, memory-making when we can, and keep shouting that life is for living.

Mélanie Bourget: Dream Weaver