Gaëtan Essayie grew up in Biot, France, a hilltop village dating back to the medieval period, and his trajectory took root naturally, in his father’s workshop. Since 2013, Essayie has divided his time between Biot and Berlin, where he works in the collective workshop Volksluxus. His work has continued to evolve, informed by encounters and collaborations with other artists likewise infused with Berlin’s unique energy. Creating work that falls between craft and design, and resisting categorization, Essayie broadened his practice into the field of performing arts with the conception of masks and body accessories, and he continues to explore gesture and material. The art of the curve and the link is central to his aesthetic, which prioritizes functionality. His clasps fulfill their function secretly; indeed, most of his pieces are not welded.
