Joseph Charles Jacques Desiré Baissac (1940 â 4 February 2023), known professionally as Vaco, was a Mauritian artist, best known for his depictions of island life through painting, stained glass, sculpture, jewellery design and ceramics.
Vaco was a defender of the Mauritian Creole language and the idea that all Mauritians can communicate through a common language is integral to the culture of Mauritius, so much so that he said he painted the Creole language and identified as a Creole artist.
The eldest of four children, Vaco grew up in Curepipe. His father Yves Baissac was the town architect and his brother Jean Claude Baissac was another well known Mauritian artist.
He attended St Joseph's College, Curepipe and was active in the local art and theater scene from his teens. He left Mauritius in 1964 to study art in Paris and Brussels. Then he moved to Southern Africa where he owned and operated a number of restaurants but was still an active artist. He returned to Mauritius in 1990 and became a full time professional artist in 1994.
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Many visiting dignitaries to Mauritius have received Vaco's artworks including Sepp Blatter, ex head of FIFA, and Pope Francis.