L'esprit de la forêt (1993) Painting by Guy Dessauges

Guy Dessauges was born in Lausanne in 1924. He began his artistic education at the École des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne in 1940, where he studied until 1945. In 1946, he moved to Paris to join the Atelier du Vrai in Montparnasse, led by painter L.O. Chesnay. During his time in Paris, he also attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, studying under Othon Friesz. His talent was recognized with French government scholarships in 1951 and 1952, allowing him to remain in Paris until 1954, when he encountered the burgeoning American art scene that included figures like Jackson Pollock, Sam Francis, and Mark Tobey.

Dessauges began to experiment with tachism, developing new textures in his Montparnasse studio that liberated him from academic constraints. This marked the beginning of his technical freedom and exploration. Upon returning to Berne, he integrated into the city's art community, forming friendships with notable artists such as Luigi Crippa, Franz Fédier, Meret Oppenheim, Martin Lauterburg, and Serge Brignoni. He received encouragement from Arnold Rüdlinger, the director of the Kunsthalle in Berne, who showcased his work alongside other Berne artists.

In 1958, Dessauges initiated a new phase in his practice by spray-painting large canvases in his studio at Villa Egli, including a monumental piece measuring 27 meters long and 4.5 meters high for a television set. His artistic direction shifted in 1966 when his project for a tower of prefabricated cylindrical dwellings was featured in the October issue of Journal Domus as part of the Brenta Precompressi AB research competition for innovative architectural expressions.

Dessauges’ painting evolved to embrace fantastic elements reminiscent of Max Ernst's experimental style. He explored new techniques, incorporating metallic backgrounds and revisiting old glazing methods to create more drawn forms. In 1995, inspired by a book by Paul Radin and Charles Kérényi, he produced a series of 80 paintings based on “divin fripon,” a mythical oral legend of the North American Winnebago Indians.

In addition to his artistic endeavors, Dessauges penned his memoirs, titled “The Uncertainty Principle: An Artist's Life.” He passed away in March 2009, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and exploration in the world of contemporary art.

• Nationality: SWITZERLAND
• Date of birth : 1924
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Swiss Artists