Rajdar Coll-Part
Coll-Part is a Jack-of-all-trades, a dabbler, a tough guy, a busy body, a crank, a gentleman (18th century style).
He is a writer (Mémoires d’un prodige de foire ; Bourgois Editeur 1988), a short film maker ; he produces his own plays (Président Griper en 2012 and l’odeur des gens en 2014 in Avignon) ; he is a scenograh, a designer and a furniture manufacturer.
The enclosed list* shows his deep involvement in exhibitions of his furniture since 1987. The catalogues of his exhibitions include texts revealing , as much as his works, Coll-Part’s personality and sense of humour.
At times or at the same time, he is past-master at derision, fanatical about the finishing touches, absurd to the point of being provocative. Even if these are hackneyed expressions, he is in the surrealo-dadaïste sphere being dead serious about it all without taking himself seriously.
Above all, he is funny. No sooner does he produce a catalogue, it brings a smile on people’s face, then a frank laugh. Then photographs are passed around like a newly discovered delicacy.
The whispers of formal exhibitions are turned into a roaring acclaim “fantastic !”, “ghastly !”,“not in my own home !”. Perfect timing, he is not selling.
At last, the rule of conduct is flouted. Some consider those as works of art, others as good enough for the rubbish dump.
At last, a debate, clear-cut point of views. To hell with a dull consensus on over familiar furniture and with a false debate between Art and Design.
Coll-Part produces raw art and breaks the rules of design together with poetry and bawdy joke to the point of never knowing whether he is being serious or not.
