24th Biennale Internationale de Vallauris

The Biennale Internationale de Vallauris – Contemporary creation and ceramics is turning the capital of ceramics into an open air museum.

The Biennale Internationale de Vallauris – Contemporary creation and ceramics and was founded in 1966. The Vallauris Biennial aims at promoting contemporary creation in the field of ceramics and at reflecting the multiple practices of this art of fire. Organized annually by the Town of Vallauris Golfe-Juan, this prestigious event also offers a traditional competition designed to encourage and publicize talents. 6 exhibition venues, 65 artists and 150 works from 14 nationalities to discover from July 2 to October 31, 2016.

Pottery, an old tradition

The tradition of pottery in Vallauris is secular. From the 16th to 19th century, pottery was dedicated to culinary before taking an artistic turn with the decorative and artistic pottery, initiated by the Massier family in the late 19th. The movement reached its peak with Picasso as he met the Ramier couple in 1946 and created more than 3,000 works in their Madoura workshop between 1946 and 1971.
This year, from July 2 to October 31, 2016, the town of Vallauris Golfe-Juan offers a selection of the best artistic creation with ceramic works signed by international artists. Céline Graziani, coordinator of this 24th edition, promises it to be exceptional because of its quality and innovation.

Inauguration

The Museum Magneli, museum of ceramics

The Magneli Museum, museum of ceramics, presents an exhibition of 46 works by artists selected by the jury during the 2016 competition. It is presented in two categories: Container and Sculpture. The course proposed by the Magneli Museum allows to discover the creations of the 2016 winners: the French Marc Alberghina and Patrick Loughram, the Irish Brendam L.S Tang and the Austrian Helene Kirchmair.
The eight works of artists presented revolve around two series: Drunken and Fragile. The latter have the feature to revisit the motifs from major European manufactures. Some artistic achievements in which smooth and shiny body of white porcelain are created, all playing on the sensuality and fragility of the material.

Kim Joon

South Korea in the limelight

As part of the France-Korea Year, the Biennale Internationale de Vallauris – Création contemporaine et céramique has chosen South Korea as guest of honor. In this country, the ceramic is an ancient art, today rich of a contemporary artistic expression through creators opening bridges between Far East millennial tradition and West. The works by Korean artist Kim Joon invite to take a new look on china with their digital compositions with motifs from Korean artistic tradition and references to Western pop culture.

Refugium

Vallauris Golfe-Juan, an open air museum

During the the Biennale Internationale de Vallauris, the city offers other exhibition venues to explore. The Salle Eden presents a selection of ceramic works by contemporary artists from South Korea. At La Maison des Quartiers, the exhibition Made in Netherland showcases Dutch artists. The creations exude the vitality of Dutch design, between functionality, rigor and fantasy.
The Salle Arias presents the exhibition Refugium by Christin Johansson; the Salle Jules Agard, with Objects?… Objections! shows daily objects, that, diverted, becomes other, sculpture, landscape, language… intriguing and attractive.
The Espace Grandjean hosts the exhibition Rêves éveillés (Daydreams) by artists Bertozzi and Casoni. The contemporary vanities of their works refer to a critique of our society where what is consumed is immediately discarded.

Picasso and the night birds

While living in Antibes, in the Grimaldi Castle, Picasso became friends with a little owl who keeps him company in his studio. Fascinated by this nocturnal animal, which refers to the ancient themes he then was working on, he will take pleasure in representing it, varying media and shape. We thus find the raptor perched mysteriously in the monumental work War and Peace at the Chapel of Vallauris.
The exhibition D’une chouette à l’Autre, Picasso et les Oiseaux de la Nuit (From an owl to the other, Picasso and the night birds) presents fifteen sculptures and ceramics made in Vallauris in the Madoura and Fournas workshops. Allegories of wisdom or birds of ill omen, owls take an ambivalent meaning in the Picasso’s work. The exhibition is organized by the XXth Century national museums in the Alpes Maritimes, with the support of the Musée National Picasso-Paris.

Exhibition from July 2 to September 19, 2016

The Biennale Internationale de Vallauris – Contemporary creation and ceramics is open every day except Tuesday, from 10h to 17h, until October 31, 2016.

www.vallauris-golfe-juan.fr

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