2:20 Eric BONTE From Liuli China Museum
中 | EN
Immediately after graduation from the National School of Applied Arts in Paris, Eric Bonte purchased his own workshop and began his pursuits as an independent artist. This type of daring and adventurous spirit is still evident in his works. He says, “I want to give shape to the invisible, I want to make these phenomena felt and for that I must to go to the end of what is possible” (Bonte).
This philosophy of pushing boundaries is faithfully reflected in his work. He consistently encourages the viewer to subvert accepted doctrines and to think critically for themselves as Descartes, Voltaire and Montaigne (some of Bonte’s favourite authors) did.
In the 80s, he was already showcasing his own creative artwork – at the Galerie Capazza no less. But when his business took off, he took a 20 year hiatus to administer solely to his clients’ demands. In this time period, he completed larger than life projects for the Plaza Athena and Hotel Raphael in Paris. He also became the famous Jean Rene Bazaine’s glassblower. Bonte worked alongside him to create the stained glass windows of the Saint Dié des Vosges Cathedral and the Saint Guénolé Penmarch Chapel. He also helped to restore the stained glass windows of the church of Saint Séverin in Paris.
In 1987, he created history with the completion of the stained glass windows and domes in the Yamoussoukro Basilica of Our Lady Peace in the Cote d’Ivoire. While the cathedral is the largest in the world, surpassing that of even St. Peter’s in Rome, the stained glass order was also the largest in history: more than one million glass pieces were needed to cover 8400 meters square. The dome itself is 42m in diameter. This venture required a team of more than 60 people for 18 months.
We are fortunate enough to host this maestro’s first solo show in Asia. He has permanent installations at Ladurée in the heart of Paris, the Arab League Conference Centre in Egypt, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Oman, and public fountains made of carves glass in Moscow. It is only in the last 10 years that he has begun once again to create and exhibit his personal art.
We should all be so lucky to work in a field that we find truly rewarding and even liberating. In this, Bonte leads by example. He shows us that in order to create art that move others, we must first be true to the song in our soul. His works master the subtleties of colour, the harmonies of light and the exquisite splendor of interior decoration. Here, we have a poet who writes on glass instead of papyrus.
