The idea is to die young as late as possible. — Ashley Montagu — Tuesday January 28th — —

“What art does — maybe what it does most completely — is tell us, make us feel that what we think we know, we don’t. There are whole worlds around us that we’ve never glimpsed.” Greil Marcus — Tuesday January 28th — —

I love listening. It is one of the only spaces where you can be still and moved at the same time. — Nayyirah Waheed — Tuesday January 28th — —

8 artistes & la terre

Last week the fascinating exhibition called ‘8 artistes & la terre’ has ended at the London-based gallery Erskine, Hall and Coe. The exhibition has been one of the most popular exhibitions to date at the gallery, and was based on the namesake book, which was published by Argile Editions in 2009. All of the eight artists knew each other before they created their work, with Jacqueline Lerat functioning as the lead artist, which resonated in a direct influence in the creation of their individual pieces. Some of the pieces really stood out in our eyes. We love the beautiful and raw sculptures by Claude Champy and Daniel Pontoreau and particularly the dolmen-like work of Bernard Dejonghe. At the same time we are also highly attracted to the the beautiful shape created by Setsuka Nagasawa.

Claude Champy began as a designer of utilitarian objects, and gradually incorporated painting and sculpture into his work. He adorns his pieces with different layers of enamels, which are spread over or poured on, in order to bring a new dimension to his artwork. He has received many awards for his art, including an honorary diploma form the Biennale Internationale de Vallauris in 1976, the Bavarian State Award in 1996 and first prize in the Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award in 1997. He regularly exhibits his work throughout Europe as well as in China, Japan, the United States and Australia.

Bernard Dejonghe was born in Chantilly, Bernard studied at the École des métiers d’art in Paris, and then moved to Briançonnet where he built a kiln and his studio around it. He oscillates between clay and glass depending on where his curiosity takes him. His artwork has been featured in over 50 exhibitions throughout Europe and Asia, and are owned by public collections on these continents as well as in the United States.

Daniel Pontoreau lives and works in Paris as well as in Asfalou, Morocco. He developed a love of sculpture over the course of more than forty years. He has exhibited his work throughout France, South Korea, China and Japan, and has completed many public commissions relating to architecture and landscape. His work is owned by several public collections in France and throughout the world.

Lastly, Setsuko Nagasawa was born in Kyoto. Following her studies of the arts in Japan, the United States and Switzerland, she opened her first studio in 1967 in Kyoto, and participated in her first major exhibition in 1977 in Geneva. Her pieces have abandoned utilitarian references in favour of a sculptural quality. She has regularly exhibited her work throughout Europe, Japan and the United States since the 1960’s, and has taught ceramics in France from 1977 and 2005.

For more information see here.