Planting the seed
PHUKET: The new Novotel Phuket Vintage Park in Patong hosted the opening of the inaugural art exhibition at The 9 Gallery last Friday (July 20).
Jody Houton
Friday 27 July 2012, 04:35PM
French-born artist Eric Stocker has the honour of being the gallery’s first resident artist, and will be treating crowds and attendees to his unique ‘vegetal’ imprint pieces.
Eric has been immersed in the world of lacquer since he was 16-years-old.
As a teen, he was trained by French lacquer masters Pierre Bobot and Ferdi Ferrone in Japanese and Chinese lacquerware and gilding techniques.
Japanese lacquerware (historically referred to as ‘Japan’ similar to Chinese ceramics) covers a broad spectrum of fine and decorative arts. Lacquer has been, and still is, regularly used in Japanese paintings, prints, and on a wide variety of objects from Buddha statues to bento boxes for food.
Over the years, Eric has developed and created his own unique style based on vegetal imprints which are engraved in gold, silver and copper lacquer leaves. The ‘Vegetal Imprints’ exhibition is characterised by three strong elements: foliage, colour and imprints.
In 1998 Eric was commissioned to train young people in Cambodia to revive gilding and lacquer techniques in Asia, and, along with his brother, founded Angkor Artwork in Siem Reap in 2008.
Nowadays, Eric spends his time in Bangkok training Thai artisans.
The exhibition runs until August 5.
For more information, visit the9gallery.com
