Musée

“Musée” aims to be a collection—a series of books, each focused on a single person.

Musée, museu, museo, museum…

Today, a museum is generally considered a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. However, the word’s origin comes from the Ancient Greek mouseîon, which meant “the house or place dedicated to the Muses.” In Greek mythology, the Muses were nine sister goddesses who protected and inspired the arts and sciences.

“Muse” is not a word I’ve ever felt comfortable with. I’ve never viewed my models as objects meant to inspire me or stimulate my talent; on the contrary, I’ve always considered them an integral part of the creative process.

I chose this name, Musée, because this collection will be a museum of my collaborations, but also their home and refuge.

This project stems from the need to thank the people with whom I’ve collaborated most for their openness, their time, and their constant inspiration. As I said, I’m comfortable letting myself be advised or guided regarding the content of my drawings. For some time now, whenever I met someone, I’d consider the possibility of them becoming the inspiration for an entire project. It was such a lofty goal that it ended up being impossible and created pressure on both sides; in the end, it became a kind of reward or even blackmail, which made me uncomfortable. That’s why, by approaching it as a series, I remove that exclusivity, normalize it, and allow myself to enjoy it without it interfering with other aspects.

My initial idea—which is still taking shape—is to produce a very limited edition of each volume, about 10 copies, all signed and numbered, and to offer them for pre-sale, with the option to purchase one of the original works featured in the book. The format will differ from my square books, and I will expand it to A4 size. The works will be accompanied by my texts, by any texts that each person portrayed wishes to contribute, and—with their approval—by some photographs that complement my perspective. This is not a for-profit endeavor, but if there is a financial profit, it will be shared with the model.