TERRA

TERRA was a group exhibition of painting, sculpture, and mixed media works across four historic spaces in Burgundy, France curated by Jenn Ellis, of Apsara Studio and art historian Emie Diamond, and produced by Milena Berman of Hautes Côtes. Opening the weekend following Paris Plus by Art Basel, TERRA will respond to the idea of terroir, the concept of sense of place, in the heart of the UNESCO world heritage vineyards of Burgundy. The exhibition will be open to the public on October 21st as part of the vernissage and thereafter can be visited by appointment only until its closing on November 25 just following the 163rd charity wine auction at Beaune’s famed Hospices de Beaune, hosted this year by Sotheby’s.

Works by leading and emerging international artists across multiple mediums from painting to sculpture, ceramic and installation, will be shown in four private spaces in and surrounding the medieval town of Beaune. Driven by a thoughtful response to each location, TERRA will be divided in four parts, each considering a different facet of terroir. Commencing at The Couvent des Jacobins, a 15th century chapel located in the heart of Beaune and owned by Pierre Henry Gagey of Maison Louis Jadot, is a consideration of Time. At the heart of this location is a new installation by leading Singaporean artist Dawn Ng. Made of delicate drips on calligraphic paper, the work speaks to remnants, residue, the action of dripping, and its ephemerality. Ng’s work will be placed in conversation with various sculptural works, each inhabiting a nook of the Couvent, such as Li Tao, Ittah Yoda and Romeo Mivekannin.

Just across the street from the Couvent is the L’Ancien Théâtre, which was built to be the main theatre for the town of Beaune. Also privately owned by the Gagey family, this location serves to think about Story. On the ground floor will be several works by the French/Côte d’Ivoire artist Romeo Mivekannin exploring reinterpretations of renaissance paintings, presenting a reworking of visual history. Walking up the stairs, the visitors are presented with a dialogue between two artists exploring gesture, movement and meditative action. Hanging on the theatre walls are paintings by established Australian artist Gregory Hodge. Layered, delicate, they reference different fabrics and their stories, from their relationship with drapery over to trade and movement. These are in conversation with a forest by Italian artist Chiara Capellini, an installation that includes various ethereal-looking paintings, standing from the ground, encouraging a sea of wonder and subconsciousness.

Moving over to the nearby town of Savigny-lès-Beaune, works will be exhibited across the property of the historic chateau of Domaine Chandon de Briailles: in the tasting room, the orangerie, and in the Versailles-style gardens. Built with a sense of whimsicality, this location will explore the concept of Folly. In the Tasting Room, works by Australian artist Lara Merett will be in conversation with British artist Chrisotpher Paige, leading French artist Bernard Piffaretti, and others. In the Orangerie, addressing its relationship with nature and play, will be a selection of ceramic works by artists working in ceramics, such as Marco Bellini, Kazuya Ishida and Insung Yoon. Moving to the gardens a highlight is a marble sculpture by leading Australian artist Alex Seton, depicting a ‘plastic’ chair playfully placed atop a boulder, which visually speaks to the unique architecture of the site where chunks of limestone were incorporated in the wall’s foundations.

Finally, we are welcome to La Maison de Pommard, an architect-designed boutique hotel owned by Isabelle de Montille. With five beautifully-designed rooms surrounding thoughtful communal spaces and a garden, the hotel is a sanctuary in the esteemed viticultural village of Pommard. Noting its domestic sensibility and delicate relationship with nature, the site offers an exploration of Intimacy. Combining painting and sculpture, placed in conversation with the communal areas of the Maison and its garden are the works of Swedish artist Anna Blom, South African artist Zarah Cassim, Mexico-based artist Yeni Mao, contemporary design gallery Studio Tashtego, and others.

Text by Jenn Ellis