French artists showcase their glass works in Shanghai

This is the first time that France's largest federation of craft professionals is putting on a show in China.

Making porcelain is a delicate art that combines craftsmanship and creativity. France shares a similar tradition, with its strengths being in glass-making. And to show off that skill, 14 contemporary French artist who specialize in glass-making are putting 52 of their works on display in Shanghai.

The exhibition "The Wonderland of Glass" is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations. It is also the first time that France's largest federation of craft professionals is putting on a show in China.

The 14 French artists works explore three aspects of life: origin, nature, and privacy. Artist Fabienne Picaud has brought her "Timid Trees and Captive" series to Shanghai. Her works have been selected by the French Presidency as official gifts, and the France Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo presented a documentary about her. Picaud says her inspiration came from a book on biology whose author went above the forest and observed trees.

"And I thought that's amazing. It's exactly like people in life. Some people are really bullying, others are timid. Some you can see they're not very normal, so it's like a ball that has been punched. So I made a special piece with bubbles drawing up. They're not touching one another. They have their own space," Picaud said.

Another artist's collection features foliated cocoons that look like they are from space. She says when people see the inside of the cocoons, they see the differences, just like different personalities. And she says the craft of glass-making glass is linked to jewelry design.

"The fusion, the fire is always the link, because I'm melting I'm doing casting. I'm working always around fire. If it's metal or glass, somehow it's just different vocabulary, but it's same expression," said artist Agathe Saint-Girons.

"We raise the question 'Why glass?' to both explore and challenge the profound implications of glass art. The craft of glass is more than a technique to transform matter. It also mirrors the cycle of life and death," said curator Chang Yi.

And he says the tradition of French glass-making back in the 17th century echoes the development of Chinese glass arts. The exhibition runs from tomorrow through December 31. Tickets cost 20 yuan each.