In addition to studying at the Université de Montréal (Faculty of Education) and at Chicago’s International School of Architecture, Jean-Jacques Besner worked in interior and industrial design between 1947 and 1957, then in advertising from 1957 to 1961. He taught at the École des arts et métiers in Noranda (1963-1967) and became director of the Section des Arts plastiques at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in 1967. Besner participated in a number of major events of his time, including Expo 67 at Man and His World, Cinétique 66, Galerie de l’Étable, Confrontation 66, Jeune sculpture 66 (Paris) and the Musée Rodin’s Salon de la sculpture international (1967). In the seventies and eighties, he continued to exhibit his murals, stained-glass windows and kinetic sculptures, notably at Galerie Alliance in Montreal (1987) and at the Maison de la culture Plateau-Mont-Royal (1985). At the beginning of his career, Besner favoured stylistic sculpture that echoed the principles of design (harmony, balance and clarity). He created what he called “pivotals,” which consisted of geometric figures cut up into pieces, each one placed on a pivot; the viewer could then intervene and form a new sculpture by changing the axis. He also produced several works for the integration of art into architecture and the environment program.
SEE:
« All in one season! » by Serge Fisette, ESPACE, vol. 6 #4, p. 5.
« Sculpture : Séduction ’90 : Un bilan » by Charlotte Gingras, ESPACE, vol. 7 #1, p. 39.
« Expanded Fields of Sculpture » by Serge Fisette, ESPACE #26, p. 5.