XAVIER ROUX
The Conceptual One
Based in New York, Xavier Roux is a postmodern artist who has developed conceptual artworks based on public participation. He has developed a brand name through Redseeds and proposes participative art projects to corporations. With Schlumberger he has created the Tree of Life, a giant set of sculptures, which incorporate drawings made by children from 26 countries. He has also created a participative art project aiming at connecting the universities from different countries.
On the aftermath of 2001 Xavier Roux had “recreated” the Twin Towers using the grid of Manhattan avenues and streets and planting 4,000 giant Russian Mammoth sunflowers in the streets. Winner of the Panchiao International Art Competition he completed “The Swimmers” in 2003 – a 225 foot long glass wall representing transparent swimmers in motion. In 2007, Xavier Roux launched the Artist Studio Project in collaboration with the Yahoo Research Lab at Berkeley. The project was an experimental exploration of the role and place of the artist in our society. He has also contributed to Praxis Dreams & Possibilities show at The Whitney Museum in New York.
He is currently building The Ant at The Invisible Dog in New York, a sixty foot long steel and nylon sculpture of a an ant based on 1943 French Surrealist Robert Desnos’ poem “La Fourmi”.
THE TEAM
JUAN ALFARO
Juan is in charge of building the steel sculpture supporting the four giant balloons. Juan is an artist using metal as his primary medium. He has worked numerous artist including Yoko Ono and he has collaborated with Louise Bourgeois on her famous Spider.
GUILLAUME PATUREL
Guillaume has created all the 3-D images and movies used on this website. The 3_D rendering was also used to scale and position the sculpture in the space at Invisible Dog. Guillaume is an expert on 3-D imaging. You can see more of his work on the website of his company website.
SOLANGE CYPEL
Solange Cypel is responsible for fundraising efforts and managing the public support of The ANT. Solange is currently studying Fundraising within the Master’s Program at New York University and works as a Senior Management Consultant in Paris and in New York. She is also a member of the board of AUTOUR DE L’EAU, a non profit organization she founded in 2007 to support clean water projects in poor countries.
LAURA BRON
Laura Bron is responsible for fundraising efforts and managing the public support of The ANT particularly through the video and social media compaign. She is currently studying Fundraising within the Master’s Program at New York University and works as an Arts consultant. Laura’s interest and experience in Arts and International relations has lead to her involvement in the production and planning of various events in NYC, Berlin, Paris and Geneva. Website: Website
CINDY SMITH & MIKE GRECO
Cindy and Mike work with Aerostar, the company that fabricates the airtight balloons elements that will make the body of the Ant. They are based in South Dakota and are mostly known in New York for their work for the annual Macy’s balloons parade. Website
