Our journey begins in French Brittany, in the town of Port Louis, where the artists Ortaire de Coupigny and Clotilde Aksin-Frappier have set up there studios. They have now been joined by Olivia Lomenech Gill from the heart of Brittany and Haruka Miyamoto from Japan.
Even though sardine factories no longer exist today on the street where his art studio is established, Ortaire de Coupigny continues to preserve the memory of the places by hand-packing his sculpted and painted fish in sardine cans. Having developed his own technique and poetic approach, his contemporary artistic work evokes both Industrial and Figurative Art, Pop Art, and Surrealism.
Clotilde Aksin-Frappier meticulously creates landscapes and still life paintings. A single painting can occupy her for two to three weeks. Her preferred medium is oil pastels. In contrast to dry pastels, these pastels are made by blending pigments with a mixture of wax and oil, resulting in a smoother and less powdery texture. Much like oil painting, they can be blended or manipulated using traditional mediums or turpentine oil.
In October 2024, from the heart of Brittany where she lives, Olivia Lomenech Gill joined the gallery, presenting some of her works for display. Her unique combination of traditional etching and mixed media techniques has earned her recognition in both the fine art world and in book illustration. Notably, her work on the illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them showcases her ability to merge fine art with imaginative storytelling. Her talent extends to large-scale drawings, often depicting animals, landscapes, and fantastical scenes. These drawings are marked by a somewhat loose, yet expressive style, which captures movement and vitality.
Joining the gallery in november 2024, Haruka Miyamoto is an accomplished sculptor based in Hiroshima, Japan, renowned for her technical mastery in creating intricate and imaginative animal sculptures. Her work captures the essence of extinct or mythical creatures, such as the dodo bird and the Mascarene flamingo, blending realism with a dreamlike quality. Skilled in the use of various materials, including metals, fabric, and natural leathers, Haruka’s craftsmanship reflects the Japanese concept of mottainai (もったいない), emphasizing respect for materials and the minimization of waste. Through her meticulous attention to detail, she breathes life into each sculpture, honoring both the imagined histories of her subjects and the materials she transforms. Her pieces stand as a testament to her technical precision, as well as her ability to harmonize beauty and respect in every creation.