Fabulous isn’t it.  Title: L’âge d’or (The golden age) by Gavin Turk. You can see this and many other wonderful sculptures at the Commanderie de Peyrassol. The vineyard dating back to the time of the Crusadors (it was one of their strong holds and is a magnificent building) is stunning. The owner, Philippe Austrey is a collector of extra-ordinary art and for a small fee we can all join in and share his wonderful and eclectic taste of bold and striking sculptures. I love going there. I go about once a year and each time there is more to see. Oh lucky me! On the last day of the April workshop I took my hard working students there. We walked where we could walk and then zipped about in the golf caddies to view the furthest away art works holding their own amongst the trees and vineyards. I haven’t included all the art works here but I am posting some of my favourites. Which means there are a lot of them!!!!!!

I am not sure who this is by, I cannot find the title in the pamphlet. I love it! I love the balance and the serentiy and the fact that it seems so self assured and posed.

Title: Ligne indéterminée by Bernard Venet.

Even though the line maybe undertermined, it seems so composed and so determined. I love this sculpture for it’s grace, for it’s absolute completeness and it’s strength combine with a traquil humility that I find mesmorising.

My heart races when I see this bridge that leads to a scultpure that I find almost unbearably beautiful. I am not sure who the bridge is by or what it is called. I think I need to go back and find out.

Title: 2 angles 17.5 et 15.5 by Bernard Venet.

It seems that I am in love with Venet’s work so I decided to google him and lo and behold he has a foundation right here in the Var in Le Muy which is so close by. I am so excited I will be visiting, why didn’t I know this, why didn’t I google before? His sculptures are based on accurate mathematical calculations. I wonder if this is what makes them so beautiful or part of it at least.

I had to include Debuffet’s Tour aux Figures. Although Debuffet is not a favourite of mine, I find all his chip chopping and black lines quite disconcerting and displeasing to my eye. I have to include him as I painted in his old studio at Centre D’art Vaas in Vence. He of course was no longer there, but the very fact that I was painting where a rather extra-ordinary artist painted and lived was quite thrilling. Looking out to Matisse’s Chapel from the studio and then maybe going for a stroll after into the church to gaze upon one of Chagall’s great mosaics made me feel filled with gratitude to have made this sunny place my home.

This spectactular sculpture looks like an intricate sheet of a mind blowingly complex peice of music. A futuristic Beethoven’s 9th perhaps? When you look closely there are thousands of short wires sticking out about 25 centimeters, they move gently and as they do so the sheet music changes with their shadows. Sadly I cannot find what it is called or who it is by. I most certainly will go back there now.

I am not sure why I love this one, I just do, it reminds me of people stretching themselves to the limit and shining because the effort has exhilerated them so much. Again no name no title.

Title: La Danse des Ruban by Rotraut. I love it simple because it reminds me of the vines dancing in joy.

I am quite passionate about this sculpture too. It is by Lee Ufan and is titled. Relatum-Dialogue Z. It is so strong and so gentle and so deeply serene, I would love to this sculpture just sitting here in this amazing beauty and having quiet conversations with nature.

Title: Clément by Jean-Jacques Tosello

This powerful yet benevolent sculpture, looks out over all he surverys and it would seem, protects the vineyard and  his wonderful cornucopia of diverse and intersting companions there.

There are more, but for another time now. There is so much more to tell and show but it will have to wait for a few days. A bientôt.