"Let Me Eat Cake" Painting by Laurent Nurisso

My work seeks to illuminate some of the darker aspects of appropriation and transformation which occur every day in our culture. While our idols and role models are commercialized and regurgitated as throwaway products and unrecognizable ideologies, my work presents images built around, and from, the elements of “make believe” and story-telling. The observer is challenged to confront these pieces at both an abstract and figurative level, to construct new meanings from old symbols, and to reclaim lost meanings from the corporate structures which have over-written them. It is through this process of individualism, both in creation and interpretation, that I seek to find our shared commonality, and break down the barriers which others have created.

Whilst my work may appear at first glance to be inspired by either pop-art or street-art culture, I aim to tell new stories from what appears to be typical stereotypes. I like to re-appropriate for myself toys, products, signage from a common background knowledge -then add my own memories of places I’ve been to and transpose these into a brash today’s world. A new story, a new meaning perhaps.

I'm interested by how we’ve created false idols and use these stereotypes for our own needs; be that an ideology or just for some new commercial gain. In fact from very early religious times to today's consumerism, we have always liked ‘make belief’ and story telling. I find this idea at times quite repulsive and obstructive, yet at the same time it’s compelling. Like fast food, it’s can be quite disgusting and yet attractive all at the same time.

How can a plastic doll, an action figure or a comic book hero, merely innocent toys or stories at their creation, have become role models. Or commercial signs selling a product or service from a bygone era, be perceived as full of vintage charm.
Then there is the skull, one of the most recognizable spiritual symbols since the Renaissance. It’s become an urban, rebellious symbol, sympathetic and fun, almost detached from its true meaning of death.

I like to give the observer an opportunity to interpret in their own way; get them to venture outside their comfort zone; confront them with a fun, fantasy world that sits between abstract and figurative observations; blurring all the barriers and frontiers that exist between us.

• Nationality: FRANCE
• Date of birth : 1965
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary French Artists