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December 14, 2014

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Home » Sunday

Glassblowing hits new heights

By Liu Xiaolin | December 14, 2014, Sunday | Print Edition

IN the hands of French glass artist Jean-Pierre Baquere, glass can be made into almost anything from vivid small flowers and animals to exquisite decorations and even art installations.

A set of mega-sized jewels featuring seven pieces in different colored glass bubbles is now being exhibited at Liuli China Museum. Titled “Seven Sins,” the artworks interpret the artist’s interpretation of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride.

“Wrath” is a huge necklace made with black glass bubbles in various sizes along with a mess of tentacle-like glass strings, while “Lust” is made with glass bubbles in various shades of red. “Pride” has translucent navy blue bubbles.

“In French, rage could be described as ‘colere noire,’ so I made the work ‘Wrath’ in the color of black,” said the 65-year-old glassblower, adding that noire is the French word for black.

“‘Lust’ in red is like a beautiful woman, making people want to behold. Blue and gold are the colors of the royal families, often attached with dignity and pride,” he explained.

“These glass works are like passports, allowing me to connect with people and communicate.”

Baquere was recently in Shanghai along with a dozen French glass and ceramics artists for the opening of French Art Tour. Organized by Ateliers d’Art de France, an association connecting more than 6,000 French artists, material artists and manufacturers, three exhibitions are being staged in three venues in Shanghai through December 31.

Ceramics and porcelain works by 12 French artists are showcased in Tao Gallery, while glass works are presented in Liuli China Museum. Lafayette Art & Design Center features furniture and upholstery, art installations for inner decor and other designs expressing the art of French living.

“Never before have our French fine arts and crafts been revealed on such a scale in China — three exhibitions in three culturally significant locations of Shanghai,” said Serge Nicole, chairman of AAF.

“We want to provide the Chinese public with a different vision of fine arts and crafts, as well as the opportunity for buyers and collectors to acquire the 200 unique creations exhibited.

“We hope this will create opportunities for our artists in China, a dynamic country which is currently the worldwide leader in the art market, and which shares our deep sensitivity for fine arts and crafts.”

A porcelain artist himself, Nicole sees French fine arts and crafts penetrating more markets and having an influence on artists in other countries.

In early 2000 he joined AAF and was later nominated as chairman in 2006, to promote and gain enough country-wide recognition for fine arts and crafts.

The tour features many works from artists with striking imaginations who are yet less known by the Chinese public.

Baquere is one of them. A Maitre d’art, or Master of Art in English, he is one of only a dozen people in France who is skilled in the art of blowing, inflating and carving molten glass into various shapes. He is also one of few who can manage the process by holding a hollow tube in a flame without assistance, a traditional technique.

Born in Argenteuil in a family of glass artists, Baquere was a professional by age 10. His father was famed for making animal figurines with glass for French crystal ware house Baccarat and his mother was a master of making glass flowers for couture houses.

Glass blowing is “like meditation,” he said. “You have to be passionate, observant, and be able to calm down and concentrate.”

He is famed in France for collaborating with couture houses like Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Daum and Swarovsky on limited edition products, runway settings and window decor.

“There are three phases in life,” he said. “The first is to explore, followed by building and creating something, and then passing it on. Just like water going through a filter, sifting out the impurities and keeping the essence.”

Sunday


 

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