Ateliers Courbet is pleased to announce an exhibition unveiling French artist Karen Swami's latest series, including three smoked ceramic bas-reliefs. Swami's new work captures the accidents of direct contact with fire. These imperfections, accentuated by delicate traces of luminous light and pure gold, embody the essence of kintsugi – a technique traditionally used to repair vases and porcelain, now transformed into an artistic gesture.

The vessels are glazed in Japanese vegetal lacquer and pure gold. Their classical forms draw inspiration from ancient traditions, ranging from Nagada amphorae to Cretan and Etruscan vases, ancient Egyptian ceramic plates, and Babylonian architecture.

Swami's work is deeply informed by the natural characteristics of the Earth. From its surface down to its deeper strata, she mimics the parched, cracked, and fractured textures found in nature. The distinctiveness of her work stems from the convergence of time-honored techniques from different parts of the world that have inspired her. The simple shapes of her creations are reminiscent of Asian and Hellenistic ceramics dating back to ancient dynasties.