Ceramicist Pascale Girardin's New Collection Presented at the ICFF in NYC and Révélations biennial in Paris
Ceramicist Pascale Girardin will be presenting her latest works at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City, and at the Révélations biennial in Paris, in May and June respectively. Attendees will be able to meet the artist and to view her unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design sensibilities on display.
Girardin is best known for her architectural installations consisting of hundreds, or even thousands, of individually crafted pieces that come together in larger-than-life compositions. Her work can be found around the world in luxury retail, restaurant, and hospitality spaces, for clients such as the Four Seasons, Nobu, the Peninsula, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
For this year’s events, the artist unveils a new collection of large format ceramic sculptures entitled Figura II, the latest installment in her series of totemic figures. Perceived as a whole, through their size and contours, the pieces refer to the notion of our common human experience and, more specifically, to the universal principle of belonging. With the increase in exchanges and movements of populations, our sense of belonging can be understood as a fluid state, depending on the many social ecosystems in which we navigate and relate to others. Having experienced multiple relocations during her childhood, the series holds significant meaning for Girardin from a conceptual, formal, and personal perspective. Out of constant adaptation to her new surroundings, her views on identity inform the artist’s relationship with clay as much as the filter through which she contemplates humanity.
Dunes, a limited-edition lighting collection created in collaboration with Montreal artist and designer Maud Beauchamp will also be on display at the ICFF. The title refers to the organic formations found on the earth’s surface, whose shape and size are constantly shifting due to fluctuating wind patterns. The landscape created by Dunes is a testament to the ever-changing nature of our planet and serves as a reminder of our impermanence.
Girardin produces her sculptures using traditional coiling and slab-building techniques, intentionally leaving traces of the hand which recall our sensory connection to the physical world. This haptic experience, rooted in the ancient Greek term haptein, meaning touch, is central to her artistic approach. Through the Figura series, she seeks to convey how our relationship to the material realm can lead to a deeper understanding of our rootedness in humanity as a whole. These sculptures are meant to be interpretive rather than didactic, inviting viewers to draw on their personal frames of reference to engage in an open and lively dialogue with the work.
In my practice, I often allude to a story or an emotion through a minimalist approach. The outline of a familiar form in a sparse composition appeals to the imagination.
— Pascale Girardin
Find the artist and view her works at the ICFF booth 753, and at the Révélations biennial in the section “Le Québec, la Nation à l’honneur.” The format of these events allows visitors to meet the artist in person and discuss her pieces in detail.
ICFF
- Dates: May 21-23, 2023
- Location: Javits Center, NYC, booth #753
- More information on ICFF Website
Révélations biennial
- Dates: June 7-11, 2023
- Location: Grand Palais Ephémère - Plateau Joffre- 75007 Paris or Avenue Charles Risler - 75007 Paris. Section: “Le Québec, la Nation à l'honneur”
- More information on Révélations biennial Website
Artist in presence at both ICFF & Révélations
About Pascale Girardin
Originally trained as a painter, Pascale Girardin’s interest in both art and science led her to study biology (Université de Montréal), design (Certificate in Digital Technologies, Concordia University), ceramics (Centre de Céramique Bonsecours), and visual arts (BFA Concordia University). With the goal of enhancing her ability to conduct thoughtful research and to continue nourishing her work Girardin is a recent graduate(MA) of the Université du Québec à Montréal. Her work as a visual artist and designer has earned her several awards and distinctions, including the Pierre-Pagé Prize and grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
Pascale Girardin's work complements the architecture of many luxury establishments around the world, including Nobu Broadway, the Four Seasons Montreal, Saks Fifth Avenue, Clement Restaurant in New York, Four Seasons Private Residences in Pudong, the Printemps Paris, and the Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai.