The Art of Transparency and the Maison Guerlain:
At Guerlain’s boutique on the Champs-Élysées, represented by the Maison Parisienne gallery, Géraldine Gonzalez, welcomed Caractères Paris. Her collaboration with Guerlain, spanning over 11 years, is emblematic of her body of work. It began in 2009 with the theme of La Petite Robe Noire, continued with the design of several Guerlain boutiques, and culminated in a monograph in December 2019 at the Champs-Élysées boutique. The iconic perfume house resonates deeply with Géraldine’s universe and her exploration of transparency. She transports visitors into a surreal world of magic and imagination, evoking the forgotten realms of childhood.
The Art of Transparency and Crystal:
When we think of Géraldine’s work, crystal often comes to mind. However, crystal is merely a medium for her to explore light’s sparkle and brilliance. Géraldine explains that her initial focus was on paper as she studied transparency and light interplay. She then expanded her techniques, including working with polypropylene plastic, to continue her exploration of transparency.
The Art of Transparency and Dreamscapes:
Géraldine’s work is marked by dreamscapes, influenced by surrealist artists such as Man Ray and Magritte. She transports us into a magical, fantastical world where boundaries fade away and reality is reimagined. It’s a childlike realm where objects take on new meaning, inviting us to see the world differently. A chair, typically used for sitting, is turned upside down and suspended in the air, rendered useless yet filled with wonder.
Through her work on light and transparency, Géraldine invites us into a dreamlike world, encouraging us to marvel at the beauty around us.
Today, Géraldine is a recognized artist-artisan. Her work is included in several collections, starting with the Museum of Decorative Arts in Riom in October 2019. The Michelangelo Foundation in Geneva acquired 36 paper jellyfish sculptures, which have been on display since December.
If you missed her exhibition at the Maison Guerlain, you can still discover her work at the Maison Parisienne exhibition La Promenade du Collectionneur during BRAFA’s off event from January 22-26 at the Hôtel Solvay in Brussels.
Paris, January 10, 2020
