James Coignard: la magia della materia

The Associazione San Cristoforo in Lucca has decided to dedicate a major exhibition to James Coignard to mark the fourth anniversary of his death. The artist’s works on display include glass sculptures, many paintings and drawings. The artistic life of this great painter, engraver and sculptor will be showcased in the evocative setting of the Romanesque Church of San Cristoforo.

James Coignard was born in Tours in 1925. He lived and worked in Antibes and the Alpes-Maritimes in France where he died in 2008. Coignard’s eclecticism emerged from the very beginning when he was studying at the School of Fine Arts in Nice in 1948, leading him in the following years to excel both as a painter and as a sculptor.

Coignard always was fascinated by different techniques, materials and their communicative versatility so he experimented using bronze, glass and carborundum in his works. This technique involves using abrasive silicon carbide crystals to obtain prints where matter is highlighted with velvety effects, Until the 1960’s his art was influenced by expressionism but in the following years Coignard veered towards Abstractism.

James Coignard created his first glass sculpture in the 60s working at the Forge of the Angels (Fucina degli Angeli) of Murano, in Italy. Only after having met Adriano Berengo, did Coignard’s production begin to grow in a more organic and substantial way. The artist’s ability to capture the light so peculiar to glass, the uniqueness of the world that revolves around it and the magical relationship between matter, artist and master glass-maker, marked the French artist’s career in a crucial way.

A sensitive and versatile artist, Coignard during his career put his talents to the service of many poets.

A monographic catalogue edited by Luciano Caprile accompanies the exhibit.
Exhibit conceived and curated by Stefania Trolli, Lalla’s Join in collaboration with Berengo Studio and Les Amis de James Coignard.
Promoted and organized by the Associazione San Cristoforo.
Overall Coordination Arturo Nardini.
Text and essay by Luciano Caprile.