"Douceur animale" by Michel BASSOMPIERRE
at the InterContinental Paris - Le Grand
Until October 16, 2024, the InterContinental Paris - Le Grand hosted an exhibition by the Grand Master of animal sculpture Michel BASSOMPIERRE.
Two monumental works were presented, along with some fifteen bronzes and marbles.
The exhibition was organized in partnership with WWF and sponsored by actor François CLUZET.
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©Elise QUINIOU
©Rachid BELLAK
| A look back at the exhibition opening
| Conference "Sculpting the Living"
Art & science in the service of nature...
On October 2 at 7pm, Michel BASSOMPIERRE created a live artwork during the screening of Laurent GESLIN's film Le retour fragile du lynx.
The screening was followed by a debate between the artist, the director and WWF Honorary President Isabelle AUTISSIER. Moderated by journalist Wendy BOUCHARD.
| Exhibitions
| Monumental works
Michel BASSOMPIERRE is one of the most important artists in the field of contemporary animal sculpture.
Born in Paris in 1948, he was captivated from childhood by drawing and modeling. He grew up between an artist mother and a scientist father. This duality will influence his future work, which combines a resolutely contemporary plastic approach with an essential anatomical rigor.
Trained in René LELEU's studio at the School of Fine Arts in Rouen, Michel BASSOMPIERRE learned to look. Thanks to the thousands of sketches he made at the zoo or in the circuses, he built his understanding of the body of the animal, this skilfully articulated machine whose line and movement he captured. In line with François POMPON, he gets rid of the anecdote to get to the point.
Favoring animals with round shapes, bears, gorillas, elephants or horses, he achieves a silhouette that is both soft and precise, where light never strikes the shadow. This visual relationship translates his link to the wild world for which he nourishes a great fascination, far from any anthropomorphism.