PARIS — The Clara Scremini Gallery in Paris recently wrapped up Dialogue (Paris, June 10 – July 9), a show that brought together architectural ceramics by Carme Collell, lacquer by Catherine Nicolas and paintings by Anne Marie Finné.
The gallery states that Collell uses ceramics as a medium to combine the worlds of architecture and painting: “The parts then become peaceful sculptures, which confront and question traditional technique.”
The works draw a line through the dimensionality of painting and border on abstract expressionism. The different entry points lead the viewer into a place of “sensitive contemplation” of the colors and volumes. Together, the works create small, meditative architectural landscapes. With this as the foundation, Nicolas extends the discussion with lacquer that both reflects and clarifies the contemporary ceramics that came before it.
The dialogue ends along the walls, with paintings by Brussels artist Anne Marie Finné. It’s the most obvious departure from the work started by Collell and Nicolas, but the gallery states that the paintings combine to comment on forces, tensions and encounters within the work. It’s a kind of choreography that starts in three dimensions and ends in two. If we keep the contemplation theme in mind, the viewer starts with a comparatively complex object and then ends on a simple, yet lovingly textured line. This is a visual metaphor for meditation as a whole.
Carme was born in Barcelona in 1951, according to her biography on Venice Clay Artists. While studying a Master in Art and Education at New York University, she was introduced to ceramics by Lydia Buzis. In 1979-80 she went on to study at the ceramics workshop of Josep Collell in Montevideo, Uruguay, along with taking drawing and painting classes with Guillermo Fernandez.
Her work is represented in major collections in Spain and abroad, including: Museum Chateauroux in France, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the former Garth Clark Gallery in New York.
Do you love or loathe these works of contemporary ceramic art? Let us know in the comments.
Installation images from “Dialogue” at Clara Scremini Gallery. Images courtesy of the gallery.
Add your valued opinion to this post.