He says of himself: "I'm not a professional carnival performer." Some people like Jacques Tilly (40) still think you're a fool. “When the leaves fall from the trees, I'm moving into the wagon assembly hall, and when the crocuses come, off again.” This is how the workaholic describes the weeks, in which he designs and builds wagons for his city's Shrove Monday procession. Since over 20 For years he has been associated with the Düsseldorf Carnival, already earned money as a student with this seasonal work and is now indispensable.
In addition to his artistic talent, he also had a penchant for the bizarre. It happened, that he would show up to school in winter in sandals and a fur wrapped around him. Tilly about his first professional ideas: “Originally, my professional goal was to be a journalist. The fast work at the daily press, where you are under a lot of pressure, interested me."
But it turned out quite differently: During and after studying communication design in Essen, he worked as a designer and illustrator. today, as an independent wagon builder, he says with shining eyes: “I love work with a clear mission. Thinking your way into new projects and perfecting the first quick ideas and then their practical implementation, these are my challenges.”
Fascinating lightweight construction
With the large sculptures, a special construction technique suits him, which he learned from an old colleague: the wiring. Each figure starts with a basic shape made out of chicken wire, supported by roof battens or bending strips. “You have to learn, to tie the wire, then you can achieve a great result with little material and time.", explains the experienced mastermind Tilly.
The finished wire figure is then laminated with paper soaked in glue. Depending on the intended use of the plastics, other materials are added. When dry, the whole thing is extremely stable and can be painted. "The wire technology is particularly suitable for large formats", the master teaches in weekend workshops. Tilly usually works with several colleagues on his large projects. His wife is also part of the group, the artist Ricarda Hinz. Production is not only for the carnival and rarely for eternity. Tilly speaks of "Ex- and HoppTechnik", which is particularly suitable for trade fairs and all types of events. "I like to be called, when there are only three days left", he says. Then "battle wire" is announced and the man is in his element. foolish, Not?