Les Famille Des Hybridus was a solo exhibition by established French artist Jean-François Fourtou, where he showcased a series of sculptures called Nanitos and Minitos. The series of works, which come in small, mini and medium sizes, portray a family of blue-collar workers with various agricultural products as their heads. This includes a pumpkin sweeping the floors, a cauliflower drying the dishes and a radish carrying kitchen utensils as if getting ready to set the table at a restaurant.
By doing so, Fourtou is drawing parallels between the lives of blue-collar workers and these fresh produce since, in both instances, they are not appreciated enough. Across the world, farmers are increasingly feeling that they are being paid too little, even though fresh produce is a key part of a human being’s diet. At the same time, blue-collar or essential workers are compensated at minimum wage or, more often than not, below that. This occurs despite the long hours they work and the tedious, repetitive nature of the work.
Les Famille Des Hybridus shows how a capitalist system exploits every aspect of humanity, even its most basic needs, such as fresh produce. It also reveals the contributions of hardworking individuals that fulfil these needs everyday, people who are being severely under compensated and unappreciated in the eyes of society.By highlighting these things, Les Famille Des Hybridus by Jean-François Fourtou is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Decent Work And Economic Growth and Life on Land.
Jean-François Fourtou’s Les Famille Des Hybridus illuminates the undervalued labour of blue-collar workers through whimsical sculptures that combine human bodies with agricultural produce as heads. By depicting figures like a cauliflower washing dishes and a pumpkin sweeping floors, Fourtou draws a connection between underappreciated workers and essential yet overlooked fresh produce. This exhibition critiques a capitalist system that exploits the basic needs met by agricultural and essential labour while offering minimal recognition or compensation. Les Famille Des Hybridus calls for fair treatment and respect for all labour.
Find out more about Les Famille Des Hybridus and other pieces by Jean-François Fourtou on his website www.jffourtou.com or Instagram @jffourtou.