In celebration of the centenary of the Art Deco movement, the artist book La Danse thoughtfully engages with the period’s legacy, shifting the narrative from mere opulence and excess to the profound human connections fostered through entertainment, music, and cultural exchange.
The work is kindly supported by the prestigious Homo Faber Fellowship, presented by the Michelangelo Foundation in partnership with Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Featuring straw marquetry by London-based straw marqueter Kim Jordan.
Collaboration with Chihiro Shigemitsu
Edition limited to 15 copies plus 2 artist proofs.
La Danse pays tribute to the dynamism of the Art Deco era by reframing its context around two iconic figures of the Jazz Age: Josephine Baker and Duke Ellington.
Josephine Baker, widely celebrated as a captivating entertainer, transcended mere celebrity status. Her performances opened a window onto an exotic and vibrant culture previously unseen by European audiences. However, Baker was keenly aware of the duality of her image, leveraging her exotic allure for fame while later using that visibility to fiercely advocate for racial equality and human rights.
Similarly, Duke Ellington, through his groundbreaking musical innovation, dissolved traditional boundaries between genres and cultural expectations, enriching jazz with stylistic intricacies while pushing against racial barriers.
The book’s title itself references Henri Matisse’s famed painting La Danse, a prescient work that, although predating Art Deco, captures the movement’s celebratory spirit, rhythmic vibrancy, and the joyful unity that Baker embodied through her performances.
Formally, La Danse unfolds as an intricate dual concertina structure, elegantly reflecting the layered interplay of melody and rhythm inherent in jazz.
The foreground concertina is crafted from specially textured paper, whose shimmering quality dynamically shifts colour according to the viewer’s perspective, mirroring the spontaneous and improvisational essence of jazz performance. Hand-drawn figures, screen-printed and delicately shaded by hand, animate its surface. Each figure, swiftly rendered in a single expressive gesture, captures the fluidity and immediacy of dance, echoing the energy and freedom Baker famously projected on stage.
In contrast, the background concertina grounds the piece in deep, sophisticated tones, adorned with precise, hand-scored geometric patterns echoing the distinctive architectural style of Art Deco. These structured patterns and irregular folds reflect the rhythmic sophistication characteristic of Ellington's compositions.
The deliberate interplay between foreground and background further symbolises jazz’s intricate musical interactions. The concertina’s folds, detailed yet harmonious, reflect the nuanced structure of jazz music itself: the foreground embodies melodic fluidity, while the background resonates with rhythmic precision.
The box that houses La Danse continues the dialogue with the Art Deco period through intricate straw marquetry by Kim Jordan. This decorative work subtly evokes the movement’s iconic flapper skirts, aerodynamic shapes of early aeroplanes, and streamlined designs that marked the era's aesthetic innovation. Crafted from vibrant green Indian silk, the box resonates with the period’s vitality, life, and energy. The choice of colour references precious materials, notably jade, frequently admired and utilised in Art Deco creations.
Ultimately, La Danse elevates Art Deco from a period often simplistically defined by opulence to one defined by profound human connection, cultural exchange, and artistic evolution. By intertwining historical reflection, craftsmanship, and conceptual depth, this artist book not only celebrates a century-old legacy but asserts its enduring relevance in a contemporary context.
Box Dimensions
H: 54.5 x W: 43 x D: 4 cm
Book Dimensions fully opened
H: 42.5 x W: 205 cm
For acquisitions and enquiries please contact Manuel Mazzotti
