Jacques Monneraud turns cardboard illusion into lasting ceramics
French ceramic artist Jacques Monneraud creates the Carton series, vessels that convincingly mimic folded cardboard and packing tape but are entirely made from fired clay. The trompe-l'œil works explore themes of time, permanence, and transformation, contrasting disposable packaging with ceramics' durability. Monneraud, a former advertising professional, uses illusion to slow viewers' consumption of images. He collaborates with ceramic art historian Virginie Armellin to reference Ancient Greek forms, translating them into geometric, angular shapes that reinforce the cardboard effect. The artist avoids curves and glaze to maintain the illusion, requiring extreme precision to leave no trace of his hand. Monneraud sees beauty as a means to provoke reflection on what disappears and what remains, and he is drawn to porcelain for future work.
Key facts
- Jacques Monneraud creates ceramic vessels that look like folded cardboard with packing tape.
- The Carton series is made entirely from clay, not cardboard.
- Monneraud worked in advertising before turning to ceramics.
- He collaborates with ceramic art historian Virginie Armellin.
- The works reference Ancient Greek forms but use geometric, angular shapes.
- Monneraud avoids curves and glaze to maintain the cardboard illusion.
- The artist describes his work as a 'temporal short circuit' between fragile cardboard and durable ceramic.
- He is considering working with porcelain in the future.
Entities
Artists
- Jacques Monneraud
- Virginie Armellin
Institutions
- designboom