SIT TOGETHER
in collaboration with Amélie Maison d’Art gallery
opening on Thursday, November 30th from 6 pm to 8 pm
From November 30th to January 22nd, OGATA Paris welcomes galerie Amélie Maison d’Art for the SIT TOGETHER exhibition by artist Cécile Laffonta, which pays tribute to the ancestral tradition of straw-working with three exceptional pieces created by master straw craftsman Rémi Desportes.
“From raw bundles to hybrid objects and design objects reduced to their most minimal form, this series reflects on the traditional straw bench in three different forms. Reworked with the structural and aesthetic qualities of a stainless steel frame, the three benches also bear witness to the permutability of my personal references, navigating between art and design, manifest piece and everyday object.” Cécile Laffonta.
The dust of construction sites and the noise of workshops are Cécile Laffonta’s source of inspiration. Since her days at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, she has retained her love of experimentation, research and materials. Her sensitive approach and love of the plastic arts have led her to create each object as a unique piece, halfway between design and sculpture, emphasizing the reuse of materials and craftsmanship.
Rémi Desportes, master craftsman on the Route des Métiers d’Art du Lot, mulches and canes chairs and armchairs in his workshop in an old barn on the slopes of Les Junies. It is in the marshes of this same valley, a protected area, that he harvests the high-quality raw material, Carex, necessary for his noble, richly nuanced craftsmanship.
“Under the skilled fingers of the craftsman and the eye of the artist, straw comes to life. It becomes a work of art. Straw craftsmanship is much more than a simple craft, it’s a tribute to the simplicity, patience and elegance of nature. Beyond its visual beauty, straw craftsmanship carries with it the history of tradition and culture. It evokes customs handed down from generation to generation, and precious techniques that have survived the ages. Steel, a symbol of strength and durability, represents the brute force of modernity. When these two elements meet, steel and straw, a unique harmony takes shape: the perfect balance between strength and grace. The clean lines of steel contrast with the delicacy of straw patterns.” Amélie du Chalard
This exhibition highlights a shared philosophy of savoir-vivre and savoir-être that brings together OGATA Paris and Amélie Maison d’Art.
The exhibition space is open daily from 11am to 8pm.
AMELIE, MAISON D’ART
Inhabited by a love of art and emotion, this exceptional gallery reflects the vision of its founder Amélie du Chalard. Housed in an eighteenth-century mansion at 18 rue Séguier, the gallery is home to the works of 130 artists already in prestigious collections or up-and-coming, all of whom have an artistic approach close to abstraction. Amélie du Chalard combines an online site with a physical gallery in which works punctuate every wall: painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, art objects, monumental installations and in situ. Amélie du Chalard contributes to the recognition of artists such as Frédéric Heurlier Cimolai, Pola Car- men, Tanguy Tolila, Manolo Ballesteros, Pius Fox and others.
A sensitive researcher, Amélie du Chalard is also helping a new generation of artists to emerge who deserve a prominent place on the art market, including Virginie Hucher, Kim Bartelt and Margaux Pecorari.