Designer Gilles Jonemann has created a collection of 24 artworks for his exhibition 'New Look, New Lacque – Gilles Jonemann for Hanoia' in Hanoi. (Photo courtesy of Hanoi) Jonemann, using lacquer objects by Vietnamese haute lacquer house Hanoia, hasapplied debris or redundant materials to the structure, creating 24contemporary artworks which are on display at the New Look, New Lacquer –Gilles Jonemann for Hanoia.
Talking about the special collaboration, the artist, who is also a member ofthe design team of Petit H by Hermes, said that an encounter with a Hanoiarepresentative in 2017 gave him the idea about the exhibition.
“When I visited Hanoia stores, looking at their lacquer vases, and large bowls,I realised that all of them were crafted using traditional craft techniques butexpressed a contemporary aesthetics," said the 78-year-old designer at apress preview in Hanoi last week.
"Immediately, I thought I could add a few details to those objects topresent my own style. So when the representative mentioned about an exhibitionin Hanoi, I could envision all the transformation and combination of Hanoiaobjects with the materials I have collected.
“I want to enrich the Vietnamese identity for those products by adding detailsthat imbue in themselves the Vietnamese cultural feature. Those can be the onesthat relate to Vietnamese history, traditional customs, or archaeology.”
In 2019, the artist returned to Vietnam to select the necessary materials tocarry out his previous ideas. During one month, he wandered every corner of Hanoi,searching in numerous shops selling ethnic decorations and ceramic antiques,then travelled to Mai Chau – a mountainous region in the North, to finddiscarded materials – broken ceramic pieces, handloom cloth and debris for hiswork.
By the end of 2020, the artist completed 18 pieces. However, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, an exhibition as planned was impossible.
“I thought ‘We have lots of time. Why we don’t do a bigger exhibition?’ andasked Hanoia to send me six other lacquer products, so today, we have 24 workson display at the show,” he said.
Hanoia co-founder Nguyen Thi Nhung said that she feels thankful for thefruitful collaboration.
Nhung said; “With the extraordinary creativity of Jonemann, the lacquer vases,trays, and bowls are no longer applicable objects, but have been transformedinto beautiful artworks, which, looking at them, you will feel like you arefloating in a dream. I think this is the most wonderful function of thoseobjects because they can evoke a nice feeling of everyone.”
The businesswoman also said that Hanoia wants to be a bridge linking Vietnameseculture and art to other Asian and European regions, especially France.
“We want Vietnamese people will have a chance to enjoy works by internationaltalented designers and artists. Besides, our goal is to make Vietnamesehandicraft products to be known in the region, farther in Europe and theworld,” she added.
Born in 1944 in Geneva, Jonemann was educated at the École des Arts Appliqués(The School of Applied Arts) in Paris and at an academy in Aix-en-Provence. Hiswhole life is associated with collecting special materials such as seashells,sea urchins, fragments of nuts and seeds from around the world and craftingthem into exquisite and unique jewelry in his own way.
He has travelled to many parts of the world not only to serve his travelinterests but also to collaborate with many companies and artists in Nicaragua,Madagascar, Mali, and most recently Vietnam. In addition, he has collaboratedwith many luxury brands such as Issey Miyake, Hermés, Morabito and Per Spook.
Since 2006, he has been a member of the design team of Petit H by Hermes. Hewas one of the first to develop handcrafts collections that recycled wastematerials from Hermes and other brands such as Puiforcat and CristalleriesSaint Louis.
The exhibition New Look, New Lacquer – Gilles Jonemann for Hanoia opens untilDecember 1./.
VNA
