Vaco Baissac

GCSK
Vaco in studio
Vaco in 2013
Born1940
Curepipe, Mauritius
Died4 February 2023
NationalityMauritian
Websitevacoartiste.com

Joseph Charles Jacques Desiré Baissac (1940[1] – 4 February 2023),[2] known professionally as Vaco, was a Mauritian artist, best known for his depictions of island life through painting, stained glass, sculpture, jewellery design and ceramics.[3]

Vaco was a defender of the Mauritian Creole language and the idea that all Mauritians can communicate through a common language is integral to the culture of Mauritius, so much so that he said he painted the Creole language and identified as a Creole artist.[4]

Early life

The eldest of four children, Vaco grew up in Curepipe.[5] His father Yves Baissac was the town architect and his brother Jean Claude Baissac was another well known Mauritian artist.[6]

He attended St Joseph's College, Curepipe and was active in the local art and theater scene from his teens. He left Mauritius in 1964 to study art in Paris and Brussels.[7] Then he moved to Southern Africa where he owned and operated a number of restaurants but was still an active artist. He returned to Mauritius in 1990 and became a full time professional artist in 1994.

Exhibitions and works

Source:[8]

  • 1958 Vaco held his first solo exhibition at the age of 18
  • 1960 St. Denis de La Réunion
  • 1970 to 1990 Various exhibitions and galleries in Southern Africa
  • 1991 First exhibition since returning to Mauritius at Galerie Hélène de Senneville in Grand Baie, Mauritius
  • 1992 Salon de St. Leu a La Reunion
  • 1993 Salon d’Automne a Paris, France
  • 1995 Vaco and his students expose artworks, Port Louis, Mauritius
  • 1997 Galerie du Chien de Plomb, Port Louis, Mauritius
  • 2001 Exhibits in Brussels and Fribourg
  • 2002 Musée Vera in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Paris
  • 2003 ARTE92 in Milan
  • 2005 Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Moka, Mauritius
  • 2012 VACO expose les Concubines, Réduit, Mauritius
  • 2023-2024 – Retrospektiv Vaco (posthumous), Caudan Arts Centre, Ile Maurice

Many visiting dignitaries to Mauritius have received Vaco's artworks including Sepp Blatter,[9] ex head of FIFA, and Pope Francis.[10]

Awards and decorations

References

  1. ↑ Baissac, Vaco. "Vaco Bio". Vaco Artiste.
  2. ↑ "Vaco: I'd Like To Take It Slow And Go From One Side To The Other!, Vaco Baissac". Le Matinal.
  3. ↑ "Experience Mauritius Through Vaco Baissac". Kreol Magazine.
  4. ↑ "tribute to a Mauritian artist, Vaco Baissac (1940-2023)". Mautourco.
  5. ↑ "In Diversity Lies Our Identity". Youtube.
  6. ↑ "Art on the beach". Insider Tasting.
  7. ↑ Baissac, Vaco. "Vaco Bio". Vaco Artiste.
  8. ↑ Baissac, Vaco. "Vaco Exhibition List". Vaco Artiste.
  9. ↑ "Fifa are now at the 'forefront of governance standards' according to Sepp Blatter". Independent.
  10. ↑ "Vaco Baissac: eternal official gift". L'Express.
  11. ↑ "National Day Awards 2023". Prime Minister’s Office. Government Information Service.
  12. ↑ "National Awards ceremony May 2018". Prime Minister’s Office. Government Information Service.
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