Passerelle (2007) Photography by Bernard Baltassat

With a technical-scientific background, after 10 years traveling the deserts and seas of the Middle East, spitting fire from the earth as an oil well test engineer, Bernard Baltassat chose for his return to the country a job combining technique with his manual aspirations: model maker.
After 16 years spent putting the ideas of architects into volume, the profession disappearing with the arrival of computer 3D, he finally decided to take the time to concretize the own forms that were bubbling in him.

For him, the main interest of art lies essentially in pure creation: creating new forms, giving free rein to his imagination. It doesn’t matter the medium if the idea is beautiful and new.
The media is only incidental, the only goal is to realize the idea, to be able to share this form which is still only in his head or most often drawn.
The low cost of cellular concrete and its ease of work allow him to quickly realize some of his creations because so many others are waiting.
His desire for more airy structures and his affection for tapered edges push him towards other materials at the same time.
A great follower of "politeness of despair" humor, he never misses an opportunity to distil a little of it into his creations.
Finally, in the fight against our consumer society, he appreciates "philosophy" recycling, which consists of giving new life to objects previously intended to clutter up our already saturated bins.

He tries to share this approach to sculpture through courses for children and adults in schools and MJC.

Alongside his artistic activities, he currently holds a position as a technical teacher; teacher of mechanical engineering in a vocational school.

• Nationality: FRANCE
• Date of birth : 1958
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary French Artists