Karl Lagasse, French renowned artist was asked to create the trophy for the American Film Festival of Deauville, a special trophy inspired by his artwork Cryptogramme One.
Since an early age, Karl Lagasse has devoted himself to the art field, creating at the very beginning mostly collages. Following the same train of thought, his aesthetics evolved and were turned into the urban realm. His fascination for the one dollar bill was therefore born from his passion for American pop culture and its symbols such as the “self-made man” and the American dream. The story of the one dollar bill unveils the roots and ideology of a nation inspiring others to follow their steps, a nation that freed from the colonial yoke and succeeded. In depicting it more than often, Lagasse intends to restore the lost meaning of the bill by creating flexible sculptures symbolising the dynamism of the American economic system.
Nevertheless, if Lagasse is known for this particular work, his oeuvres are more than eclectic. In 2011 he exhibited for the first time at the Salon of Art in Monaco his Visual Cryptograms, monumental towers decorated with words and phrases emitting peace messages. Moreover, in 2012, the Deauville municipality installed at the entrance his sculpture named Cryptogram One. For this year’s edition of the American Film Festival, Lagasse has created a special trophy inspired by Cryptogram One. Furthermore, collaborating with Prouès, a leather goods laborer – the best in this category in France – Lagasse participated in the creation of a “One” bag, same that is given with the trophy. The latter was made with cast aluminium mirror polished and among the messages one can read “Hope”, “Deauville”, “Septième Art” (referring to cinema). Overall, 13 trophies will be distributed during the Festival to movie stars.
