Benoît CAZELLES,

Contemporary Illuminator

e come to appreciate the full beauty of the art of illumination when reading Sire Jean Joinville’s biography of King Louis IX of France. Joinville compares the early 14th century illuminated manuscripts with the splendour and riches to be found in the kingdom.

llumination is a longstanding artform which invites us to dream and to meditate upon beauty through magnificent shimmering colours, golds, and subtle shades.

he observer is not only overwhelmed with admiration for the amount of work and patience that the illumination represents, but is also engaged deep in contemplation.

t is said that Picasso was greatly inspired by Catalonian miniatures and by the symbolism to be found in the pictures. Prior to the first exhibition of Roman frescoes in France shortly after The Great War, Matisse was heard to declare “Had I but known these, it would have spared me twenty years of work”, presumably referring to the internal freedom he would have gained allowing him to turn away from the conventions of academic art. Modern artists, wanting to depart from the beaten track, are seeking freedom in interpretation. This is precisely what is demonstrated by Benoît Cazelles’ work where we find a bold blend of tradition and modernity.

enoît Cazelles was born in Versailles in 1974. As a result of his parents’ movements he spent much time abroad in his youth. Through travelling Benoît gained experience of cultures very different from our own, acquired a maturity and open-minded nature, and was filled with a desire to embrace all that is new and unexpected.

t is in this spirit that he invites us to meditate upon and discover the modernity in his art. The art of illumination, no longer confined to the Mediaeval era, emerges today as an important art form. Its revival in the 21st century bears testimony to its relevance to the modern world. Illumination demands not only a high degree of accuracy, patience and commitment, but also discipline and a steady hand. Benoît combines recent technical innovations with the antique style to bring an original and refreshing dimension to the art, and it is in this unique and contemporary style that his extreme talent as an artist lies. His gold-gilded miniatures on parchment are beautiful jewels to behold. He invites us to view an illumination in a new light, no longer as contained in a book, but as a painting in its own right.

Exhibitions

2009

› Exposition à venir Cathédrale de St Omer 14 au 28 juin

2008

› Douvres la Délivrande, Normandie (14)
› Dol de Bretagne, Ille-et -Vilaine (35)
› Mont St Michel, Manche (50)
› Pontorson, Manche (50)

2007

› Exposition "Feux chantants" - Cour des Boecklin - Bischeim (67) Alsace

2006

› Exposition Eglise Notre Dame des Anges. (Paris 75)
› Exposition à Roscoff. (Finistère 29)

2005

› Musée d’Art Sacré de la Manche. (50) décembre
› Notre Dame des champs d’Avranches. Manche (50)

2004

› Eglise St Pierre de Montmartre . Paris (75)

2003

› Casino de Villers sur Mer. Calvados (14)
› Abbaye Blanche. Manche (50)
› Mairie de Vienne (Autriche) "Beauté- Espérance " Avec plusieurs artistes : Marcel Hasquin, Catherine Chauloux, Jean-Joseph Sanfourche, Marc Clementin, Patrick Chupin
› Lavoir des Herbiers. Vendée (85)
› Exposition " Entrez dans la Lumière " à l'Abbaye Blanche de Mortain. Manche (50)

2002

› Belvédère à Lisieux. Calvados (14)
› Abbaye Blanche de Mortain. Avec plusieurs artistes : Marcel Hasquin, Pascale Nouailhat, Richard Rak, Serge Nouailhat, Jules Poullain, Alix des Francs. Manche (50)

2001

› Abbaye Blanche de Mortain " L'unité au cœur " avec plusieurs artistes : Akeji, Hassan Massoudy, Rachid Koraïchi, Marcel Hasquin, Lilia Ratner, Pascale Nouailhat, Richard Rak. Manche (50)
› Abbaye du Mont des Cats. Nord –Pas-de-Calais (59)
› Basilique de Lisieux. Calvados (14 )

2000

› Edition du livre " Thérèse vous parle " 12 poèmes de Ste Thérèse de Lisieux enluminés de 12 frises et de 3 enluminures originales. Aux Editions du Signe
› Office du Tourisme de Lisieux. Calvados (14)

1999

› Stage d'enluminure donné à la Bibliothèque de Troyes. Champagne-Ardenne (10)
› Réalisation du " Blason du Sanctuaire de Lisieux " et du Calendrier de l'an 2000 de la revue " Thérèse de Lisieux"

1998

› Stage d'enluminure donné à la Bibliothèque de Troyes. Champagne-Ardenne (10)
› Lagny sur Marne. Val-de-Marne (94)
› Amfreville sur Iton. L’Eure (27)
› Bry sur Marne. Val-de-Marne (94)

1996

› Exposition " Jeunes Talents " Château Sainte Barbe à Fontenay-aux-Roses. Ile-de-France (92)