An illusionist at the Decorative Arts Museum

Two of Romain Langlois’ sculptures, created in collaboration with Eric Papon at The Fontaines Pétrifiantes de Saint Nectaire were on display at the Decorative Arts Museum in Paris until the 3rd of April.

Sculptor Romain Langlois was one of 18 creators who took part in the ‘L’empreinte du geste’ exhibition at the Decorative Arts Museum in Paris as part of the European Artistic Craft Days 2016.

On show were two of his astonishing sculptures, created with Eric Papon, one of the last craftsmen in France and indeed the world to master the techniques of crystallization and petrification. The two men began their collaboration in 2013, out of which came ”Vestige”.

“Aven” and “Cellule anthropocène” were also produced at the Fontaines Pétrifiantes de Saint Nectaire using the same process: a mould is placed under the petrifying fountain for several months. The progressive crystallization of the calcium carbonate, controlled daily by the craftsman, gives rise drop by drop to the work of art.

Cellule anthropocène, by Romain Langlois and Eric Papon. Bronze and calcite, 2016. L138 x l72 x h110.

Romain Langlois has long been fascinated by the transmutation of substance and thus regards this incredible process with glee; a process which produces in only a few months what nature would take several hundreds of thousands of years to accomplish. For these new creations, he experimented with and tested the processes adherence to bronze.

The artist’s approach of selecting different pieces of discarded waste material (in this case, a block of wood) began several years ago and consists of a change of substance as well as some subtle modifications i.e. a polished finish creating shiny gold reflections or the presence of… stalactites on the inside of the piece.

The spectator, initially confused by the likeness with the original object, is then baffled by these incongruous details. With finesse, imposing nothing, Romain Langlois has you questioning the interaction of man and his environment, and gets you to ask yourself what you would like to see or rather like to ignore.

Aven, by Romain Langlois and Eric Papon. Calcite, 2016. Unique work. L63 x l39 x h50.

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Exhibition L’empreinte du geste
From March 29 to April 3, 2016
Musée des Arts décoratifs
103, rue de Rivoli – 75001 Paris, France

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