It has been a while since I showcased one of my creative friends, but today I want to tell you about Matthias, a potter and photographer who lives an hour away from here in a little cottage deep in the green countryside.
Matthias started creating his clean-lined pottery almost two years ago. Inspired by the tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony, and by the Wabi Sabi aesthetic, his bowls are pure and simple, each piece numbered and unique.
He uses neither a potters wheel, nor any coloured glazes or clay. The black brown bases to the bowls are achieved by leaving this part unglazed and re-firing.
In his home, the bowls are perched on shelves, in an orderly yet informal fashion. Everything has its place, no clutter is tolerated.
I was welcomed for lunch in the kitchen, a roaring fire blazing in the wood burning stove, and a big white dog keeping an eye on ‘the visitor’.
He showed me around his workshop, where calm and order also reign, and there is a very pleasant atmosphere that speaks of productivity without stress.
Besides producing these beautiful bowls, Matthias also produces ‘rocks’. Various sizes and shapes of clay, some glazed, some waxed. Not immediately utilitarian, but most certainly aesthetic.
If you are planning to be in Rome during April, you may like to know that Matthias will be exhibiting at the gallery Interzone. He will be showing his pottery but also his breathtaking photos, that are printed in very limited series.
And before I close I just have to show you these pictures of piles of books.
They are exquisite.
As I sat in Matthias’ kitchen with the pictures on the table before me, it was honestly difficult to know if they were photos or watercolours. You can see more of the series on his website, right here.
This my friends is why I enjoy living in the country so much, where I can be surprised by hidden talent, modest and hard working. And why I love my blog, where I get the chance to showcase the creative talent around me.
Thank you for reading me.
Matthias Biberon
His website goes under the unusual name of – Do Not Watch Please
23 comments
Sharron,
I remember peeking in on his workspace last year! Just amazing! I am so glad that you posted about him because we did not have the chance to meet him at the time. Wishing you all the best this Spring. Hoping to run into your daughter while she is out this way!
Best,
Christina
Hi Christina,
I wondered if you would remember his bowls 🙂
Don’t you think his photos are wonderful
love to you and your family
Sharon
xx
The order amongst the creativity is noticeable. People I know who are professional fine artists some how manage to thrive amongst physical chaos.
The whimsical pebbles and images of the book stacks are particularly delightful. Warm regards.
Elizabeth I am so glad you picked up on that, I was so struck by the calm and order, especially in his work studio. He tells me it is vital to his creation – lucky boy!
xx
I just LOVE those book pictures, I would adore to have a series framed in my office , they really look quite feminine
thank you for sharing this artist with us
OMG those little bowls are so precious!!
Hi Sharon,
His bowls are amazing! I so appreciate the talents of artisans like Matthias-thanks for sharing :)! I also love his kitchen-perfectly cozy.
Hugs,
Sarah
How beautiful! All of it! The simplicity of his bowls is so inviting as is the warmth of the kitchen. So many uses for them . . . ice cream for one! The stacks of books are so orderly and simple, yet very intriguing – a set of them in an office, a library, a foyer would really set the tone of the room. And the “rocks” – I can think of so many things to do with them. Wish I could have some of the bowls, especially! Thanks for inviting me in to the world of Matthias for a look.
Those bowls are exquisite. And his kitchen! Perfect order and calm with many components, what a welcoming room.
I so like these glimpses into the lives and work of the creative people near you. And I love those white-chocolate rocks. Many thanks.
Suzanna from Arizona
What a handsome young artist. His solitude is paying off. I understand the need for quiet days to let your mind fill with creativity and not with the demands of a relationship. As a potter myself I know your relationship is with your art. His wonderful bowls look as if they were sculpted from vanilla ice cream. And his lovely companion, also vanilla, speaks only with her eyes. I enjoyed it immensely.
Many sunny days to you.
I have been reading your posts for some time- I long for Normandy and to experience it personally- through your eyes that is possible virtually thank you.
Is there a way to purchase these incredibly moving ( yet still) photos of books/ it transports me
Susan
Hi Susan, yes you can buy the photos, directly from Matthias. I believe there are only 7 copies of each photo printed, so it is quite elite!
I am sending you his email address privately
best
Sharon
Perfection of the simple & the imperfect is what I see of this incredibly special artist. The soft sculpted appearance is soothing to my eyes. Exquisite French vanilla pottery. This was wonderful Sharon, thank you for introducing Matthias to your blog.
Well, Sharon…..that’s some seriously beautiful, elegantly minimalized work….of the sort that I expect would gradually/slowly reward the viewer/owner (as opposed to the immediate, bling-gratification of ceramics that call ATTENTION to themselves).
I regularly think that, if I felt (or maybe just recognized?) the need to see an expensive therapist, I’d take the same amount of money, buy a simple, inexpensive,whitewashed cottage in some remote place, and decorate it (not FILL IT, which is my usual impulse) with useful work such as Matthias’s. Of course,I’d probably have to submit to his not only choosing what I could buy, but how MUCH I could buy and haul back to the cottage.
My instincts and impulses are, as ever, anything but anyone’s idea of “minimalist”.
Thanks for showing his lovely work.
Sincerely,
David Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
I always appreciate this series and Matthieu’s work and aesthetic are exquisite. Merci à vous deux.
His work is beautiful Sharon… I would love one (many) of his bowls… and his photographs… what a talented man…
xv
The “rocks” remind me of a pile of teeth (molars to be specific!). And I like it!
love your websites…such beautiful glimpses into French life….ahhh…Merci!!!!
completely entertained and inspired by you, dear Sharon and Matthias.
withLove.
That looks great – I would have loved to win it!! I am always looking for new home decor ideas. I’ll be back to read more in the future.
Wonderful Green Overlook
I am so interested in purchasing his bowls and maybe the book pictures. I live in the US and am not sure how to make this happen….. do you have any words of wisdom?
i saw this pottery this weekend in Paris and am amazed that I found the potter on the web. Does he welcome orders via the net? If so, I would love to purchase some of his work. Thanks!
Chelsea, in Switzerland
C’est Beau, avec beaucoup de Naturel.
Je prendrai bien un thé en compagnie de Simba 😉
Magnifique 🙂
Sandra, in France