the humble bic shown
at a grand cru classé
From April 5th to August 31st, Château de Ferrand is hosting a selection
of works, in collaboration with the Musée de la Création Franche.
THE HUMBLE BIC
The Humble Bic exhibition was inspired by the ballpoint pen’s high representation among the Musée de la Création Franche collection.
Actually, “Art Brut” artists make extremely frequent use of the ballpoint pen. This simple, inexpensive and democratic tool provides an easy, immediate medium for self-taught artists that suits the spontaneity of this form of expression. We all have a ballpoint pen within arm’s reach!
There are many ways of using a ballpoint pen, bearing witness to the creative freedom of “Art Brut” artists.
This exhibition seeks to showcase them, presented in this unusual, quaint setting of the Chateau de Ferrand cellar. The venue parallels the unconventional character of the works presented.
It also posed a technical challenge for the Musée de la Création Franche: specially crafted picture frames have been designed and climate control devices have been installed to ensure that the works are properly conserved in a regulated environment used for ageing wine.
the creators
“The Humble Bic” includes of 62 works created by 24 artists of nine different nationationalities.
Pierre Albasser (France), Hervé Aussant (France), Giuseppe Barocchi (Italy), Karl Beaudelère (France), David Braillon (France), François Burland (Switzerland), Ignacio Carles-Tolrá (Spain), Jean-louis Cerisier (France), Jean-louis Cougoulou (France), Maggie Daems (Belgium/Switzerland), Ted Gordon (USA), Kurt-Joseph Haas (Switzerland), Pascal Jacquens (France), Alain Lacoste (France), James Lancaster (England), Viviane van Melkebeeke (Belgium), Gene Merritt (USA), Jean-Michel Messager (France), Damian Michaels (USA), Bruno Montpied (France), Jakob Morf (Switzerland), Marilena Pelosi (Brazil), Claudia Sattler (USA), Damian Valdes-Dilla (Cuba).
two worlds, one exhibition
Opened in Bègles (Bordeaux area) in 1989, the Musée de la Création Franche explores the worlds of “Art Brut”, folk and naive art. The collection is composed of 20 000 works, the first ever public collection in France devoted to “Art Brut” and similar genres. The Musée de la Création Franche is a pioneer in its field and recently received the “Museum of France” national certification.
Since January 2021, the Museum has been closed for renovation work. As a result, Château de Ferrand naturally offered to present a small part of the museum’s collection in its cellar.