Patrice Zana is a protean artist, writer, scriptwriter, sustainable development expert and eminent ludologist - he has designed hundreds of games of all kinds. For many years, he has been devoting himself to the conception of "profound and joyful works, as tasty as poetic fruit, through inspired texts, logs of the road, logs of doubt, playful writings and amused chronicles".

THE BRI-COLISM MANIFESTO

In 2012, Patrice Zana officially launched the Bri-colism Manifesto.
Bris-collage consists in using objects and works of art from the history of art to create original, funny, personal and lively creations. We're all "Bris-Coleurs", capable of using everyday tools to invent, manufacture and create the works of tomorrow!
Guided by the rebellious spirit of the Dada movement, Bri-colisme is an original artistic approach blending humor, poetry and invention through singular, offbeat works.

The first article in the manifesto gives us the beginnings of a definition of the Bris collage: "And what if the bris collage were in fact just an incongruous attempt at an "illegal and intentional break" with art history, a sketch of a portrait vise, a key to nine, a promise that nips and tucks, a détourne vice, a pretty poetic weld, a small repair of feelings and memories, just a trifle that aims to restore the honor of creating...". 

For Edgar Morin, Le Manifeste du Bris collage by Patrice Zana is "an uninterrupted marvel of poetry, invention and humour.

Playing with words, hijacking objects and using the imagination are all jubilant, poetic materials that Zana uses to our great delight.
Le Manifeste du Bris Colisme is a playful art of "revolutionary" creation, adds the artist.
In 2018, Paysages Humains acquired the enamelled plaque on which the Manifesto appears.

BOX POPULI

To extend this approach, Zana created the Box Populi in 2020, Box Populia set of sealed cans containing a manuscript explaining how to create the work depicted on the can, following the technical indications and manufacturing processes indicated by the artist.

Anyone can open their box and try to realize the work, or keep it intact to invest in its artistic value!
Through this act, the buyer questions the role of the artist, the sacred dimension of the work, the act of creation, the position of the patron, and the relationship between art and money. More than a work of art, it's a way of questioning our role as art consumers.
Can the buyer-collector challenge the artist's sacralized position and become a creator himself? Does he want to live a personal artistic experience, or simply acquire an object... of art?

LANGAGE MENT

In 2023, Patrice Zana embarked on a series of puns written in neon, such as "Souffleur de vers", "La magie c'est quand l'âme agit" and "Language lies" acquired by Paysages Humains.

The concept for these neon lights was inspired by the pleasure and desire of calligraphy, and by the works of artist Ben, who has created hundreds of "tableaux-écritures" with poetic or amusing phrases, integrating our everyday life in its most particular way. 

These first neon phrases were created in neon by the film production agency Dream Néon.

Since then, Zana has already prepared the production of 23 other neon-phrases awaiting financing.
These next productions will be sensitive and responsive to ambient music and sound.

Photos © Eric Allouche