Almost two years ago, Yann Dehais returned to his home in Pont-Audemer. In his Doll'Art workshop, the former Paris firefighter continues his dazzling career in Pop art culture, "especially for collectors, dealerships and car enthusiasts". "I work for Porsche, BMX and Mercedes, for their sets, but also for works to sell in stores or to offer to certain customers. I also have a network of distributors in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. I've also just signed a partnership with the Reworld Media group. Soon, I'm going to tackle the world of food and great chefs." His creations and ambitions have been noticed all the way to the United States, since in 2024, he will be in charge of decorating the majority of the rooms of the future open-air automobile museum in the Las Vegas desert.
Influenced by Banksy and the US
Yann Dehais is an artist of his time. Influenced by sports cars, basketball, advertising, Goldorak and the superheroes of the 1980s, his master Banksy and especially the US, which he discovered "in 2002, a few months after the September 11 attacks. As a Paris firefighter, I was invited to the commemorations at Madison Square Garden. When I arrived in New York, I took a slap in the face. This was followed by many trips, meetings and projects. Because all my paintings, my coverings have a story. I discuss, I imagine, I compose with old documents, photographs, objects with spray paint, a special printer, oil chalk, etc. Each element is like a track on a musical composition. The goal is for it to be harmonious in the end. It's not a fad! It's a spirit."
An airbus in the middle of the desert
In a few days, the Norman artist will fly to Las Vegas. He is going to join his sponsor "whom I met three years ago after buying a painting from one of my distributors in La Baule. He asked for my contact information and we met again on a trip to Los Angeles. A few months later, he commissioned me to create a work for his friend Omar Sy, which I delivered to his home in Paris. One thing led to another, and we stayed in touch and a few weeks ago, owner of a racing circuit in Las Vegas, he called me to participate in the realization of its extension with the idea of a permanent Burning Man. An open-air museum dedicated to cars designed as an amusement park for families. It's crazy stuff that I bought into right away."
For nearly a year, Yann Dehais will go back and forth between France and Nevada "to imagine, create and realize the majority of the works among a few other international artists. With my technical partner Mathieu Close from Le Havre, I will cover luxury cars, but also a space capsule and an Airbus 38 m long and 34 m wide. I will also participate in the decoration of the 3,500 m2 concept store. I'm expected to make proposals and make the first attempts." A project that will start in January for an opening scheduled for October 2024: "It's certain that we will work 7 days a week. I'm really enjoying myself to death."