Bastien Carré (born in 1975)
Bastien Carré works with light since his studies in the art school Olivier de Serres in Paris where he experiments with different lighting sources and the emotions they generate. At first designing ‘ambiance furniture’, he rapidly takes interest in the stellar glow of LEDs, powered by a harmless electric current, seeing in it an untapped artistic potential. The creator combines his scientific ad artistic skills to turn an electrical circuit into a piece of art. Led instantly becomes his favourite medium, playing with it as one would with raw material by combining it with wires, aluminium, Plexiglass, or any other material that allows him to explore the world of light. His talent takes shape as suspended forms, sculptures and paintings, aerial structures, full of poetry and grace.
His creations being unprecedented, Bastien Carré decides to give them the name of ‘lumigraphies’ and initiates a new art movement getting in touch with artists from all around the world that, like him, express themselves through the use of light. Ten years after his first try, Bastien Carré is now a master in the form of art he created. His work has been consecrated by the press and export itself worldwide.
His ‘lumigraphies’ are today praised by both the public and art professionals such as Ingo Mauer, who sees in him a future great actor in the world of light.
Jeanne Bonnefoy-Mercuriali (born in 1980)
Jeanne Bonnefoy-Mercuriali is a ceramist, graduated from the National School of Applied Arts and Art Professions of Paris (Olivier de Serres). She is a former apprentice of Michel Lorenzi, Maître d’Art in moulding.
She works both clay and plaster, using the coiling technique or moulds to build up her ceramics, as well as enamels or a patina for finishes. Her creations, between art and craftsmanship, are impregnated by her numerous research travels, first among Yemeni potters, then in Palestine, drawing her inspiration from antique pieces she restored at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem, and finally at the side of traditional potters in the city of Hebron. The ‘Jeux d’Anses’ series is the direct fruit of her trip to Palestine.
Jeanne Bonnefoy-Mercuriali now lives in the Sultanate of Oman, where she keeps on building up her pieces with the coiling technique she loves as it imposes a slow and steady rhythm.
Clara Baum (born in 1974)
After her studies in Lettres Classiques (Classical literature) and preparation to Normale Sup’ (one of the French superior schools), Clara Baum settles in the Creuse region where she learns ceramic restoration. She now is a cartoonist, with therefore an eclectic itinerary, and above all loves to tell stories. Her drawings are definitely akin to those of French artist Sempé in the gentleness and poetry of the strokes, yet balanced by a subtle dose of marvel and wonder. She uses watercolour and ink pen, but also realizes intaglio printmaking (engravings) with drypoints and etchings (engravings using a strong acid).
Throughout exhibitions and publications, the discrete artist restlessly explores more and more singular territories with a precious consistency. Her drawing arises from astonishment. It displays a strong sense of detail, the stroke is thin and meticulous, aimed at producing the sleekest composition. Timeless, Clara Baum’s drawing extracts the marvellous essence of everyday events, with a small impish touch. Her look is gentle, never cynical: the world Clara Baum offers to discover is mildly extravagant, sometimes absurd, but always kind.
Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuel Chain and many others have bought her drawings and her exhibitions meet a growing success. Her last book ‘Le Louvre de Clara Baum’ published by Somogy-Le Louvre was released in January 2016.
Recent Comments