Paris an arts force
Paris remains a potent force for the arts and artists, according to Nel-son-born sculptor, Christopher Braddock. In March 1986, Christopher Braddock took up a scholarship at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He has just returned home for a five week holiday after a busy 12 months which have seen a highly acclaimed one man show in a Paris gallery and the award of a major scupture prize.
Apart from his studies, the New Zealand sculptor’s stay in France has allowed him to visit some of the world’s great art collections — including regular visits to the Louvre and the Pompidou Centre — and practical work in the school’s studios.
He graduated from the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts in 1985. winning a scholarship through the French Embassy. He began working in the studio of Professor Georges Jeanclos with 15 other students in October 1986. Earlier this year, armed with a dozen drawings and three pieces of sculpture, he walked into the Gallarie Meyer and arranged a one man exhibition in the heart of Paris. Within days of its opening, most of his works were sold. The gallery was crowded and the critics praised the New Zealander’s sculpture. The working space alloted to the school’s students has allowed him to explore and develop works of timber, sheet lead and plaster as well as developing works in collage. In March 1987, he was awarded the prestigious Ebstein Prize for sculpture.
“It’s been a wonderful experience to be a New Zealander working in Paris. I've been able to soak up the environment Paris is still an important world centre for the arts and I’ve been able to see and experience important aspects of this,” he said.
On his return to France to continue his studies he will take up new studio facilities made available by the French Government But the links with New Zealand remain. “I will be returning home. It’s a very exciting time in New Zeland and this is where my roots are. It is amazing what has been achieved by two generations of New Zealand artists.”
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Press, 16 September 1987, Page 21
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349Paris an arts force Press, 16 September 1987, Page 21
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