About Jean-Marc Bullet
French Resident #8 | April 1 - June 1, 2024
Jean-Marc Bullet is an industrial design-artist based in Martinique. He worked to encourage populations using design as an innovation, socializing tool. So that I taught design both for art school student but also for entrepreneurs and government agent.
Presented in partnership with Villa Albertine and ENSCI- Les Ateliers
Supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation
Jean-Marc developed for many years his work about how design can help people to create social and cultural bonds in their territory: how can design question our ecological relationships with our environment in a post-colonial area? From those issues he creates devices with inhabitants not firstly to find solutions but to engage discussions and new projects between them. Jean-Marc Bullet graduated from the Haute Ecole des arts du Rhin ( HEAR ) to Strasbourg in 2005, and the “French national institute for advanced studies in industrial design” (ENSCI Les Ateliers) to Paris in 2007. He was recently awarded from “Mondes Nouveaux” France art program in 2021 for his project “ Presqu’une île” which invite people to use all their senses to understand ecological and social issue of the mangrove.
“My latest project, an open-air exhibition entitled Presqu’une île, invites the public to discover a mangrove through a multisensory experience punctuated by what I call “sense capsules.” For several years now, I have drawn from this creative approach rooted in geography and humankind’s ties to nature to question how my Afro-Caribbean identity informs my craft.”
Jean-Marc Bullet worked in China for some years, in marble and solar industries, trying to decrease ecological footprint of companies. He was awarded by a German design award for Nestot, a compost bin project in 2019. Last year, he collaborates with CB2, an American furniture design company to create a range of product inspired by the history of Caribbean diaspora.
Residency Project
The project’s starting point for his residency is precisely this last experience with CB2 where Jean-Marc has to question himself on his own history as a black designer. He would like to meet afro American and afro Caribbean designers to learn about their story, vision of design, and how their roots influence their practice. He then would like to share these insights with the French youth in Paris suburbs, such as in Martinique and Guadeloupe, with the purpose of awakening vocations.
“During my residency, I will exchange ideas on this subject with NYC designers from the African diaspora. These dialogs will serve as my source material for producing a podcast series on the links between cultural heritage, personal history, and design practices.
I have chosen New York City for its cultural and social dynamism. This location has contributed to the cultural emancipation of Black Americans, and is also home to a significant Afro-Caribbean diaspora.”
Jean-Marc’s Experience
What was your main objective with this residency in New York?
JM: The main objective of this residency was to meet afro American and afro Caribbean designer, to interview them in order to understand how they use their culture in their project, and how their environment issues impact their work.Were the two months sufficient for you to meet and engage with the community you intended to connect with?
JM: It was not so easy to meet designers when you do not know someone can introduce you particularly in different field from product or interior design. Thankfully WantedDesign team help me a lot.Can you name one thing, person, place, or experience that profoundly inspired you or provided a new perspective on your work and practice?
JM: Meeting the artist NYUGEN, he worked on black diaspora representation in American society and immigration issues. I visited his studio. I was impressed by how deep he was involved in his work.How did your interactions with designers from the African diaspora in NYC influence your understanding of design and its cultural implications?
JM: Most designers from African diaspora are really aware about the underrepresentation of black folks in design. Anyway their work does not exclusively talk about these issues but also questions gender, ecological and social issues. They are really involved in the city life.What do you consider the most important and beneficial outcome of this residency?
JM: The networking I did with designers I could have hardly met without this residency.Would you be interested in coming back and pursuing new collaborations in the US?
JM: At the end of my journey I met more and more artists and designers. Beginning to understand how relationships works. I’m really interested in coming back and pursuing new collaborations. I felt a lot of curiosity from people I met about what I can bring to them and sharing my ideas about decolonizing design or my concept about design relationship with our environment.What’s next for you in your professional journey?
JM: Pursuing my collaboration with CB2, to explore relationships could have with African and European craftmen.
