Laurent IvanoffMétéo
| 46.1% |  | France |
| 28.7% |  | Netherlands |
| 5.6% |  | United States |
| 4.9% |  | Israel |
| 3.7% |  | |
| 3.2% |  | United Kingdom |
| 2.1% |  | Belgium |
| 1.1% |  | Germany |
| 0.4% |  | Canada |
| 0.4% |  | Switzerland |
| 0.3% |  | Ireland |
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| Total des visiteurs : | 74249 |
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Bize actuel
Laurent Ivanoff
The gems of Laurent Ivanoff
- When the reflection of the soul is made with the chemistry of metal and the engraving of stone -
Laurent Ivanoff is a sculptor in metal in Bize-Minervois. In his studio "Bize Arts", which has been in existence for nine years, he strives for excellence in the creation of jewellery and artistic castings. The artist has an approach to life where work and passion are combined, and one sends him gratitude as well as that which dominates art*.
A pupil of the master of art Claude Delfief, who is an engraver, Mr Ivanoff has already several prestigious creations to his credit, such as the medal for the interprofessional committee of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine-growers (CIVL), and the Septimanie cross for the town of Narbonne, as well as a jewel for His Holiness John-Paul II.
Engraving is micro-sculpture on stone, using the three media of animal, vegetable and mineral, such as ivory, coral, and all the precious and fine stones. This technique dates back to 5000 B.C., and comes from Sumeria, now Iraq, and the origins of writing: the famous clay cuneiform tablets.
The cameo and associated intaglio are both made by the engraver, whose work on stone represents, on the one hand, the relief (cameo) and on the other, the hollows (intaglio). The cameo designs are mostly portraits in profile or scenes of a particular type (mythology, symbolic characters....), while the intaglio has been used especially to create seals.
In Sumeria, characters or symbols were engraved on to very hard stones to form the seal of office. "Our profession maintains the production of seals, which are signatures, but we also have, in the form of the intaglio, another discipline, which is heraldry: the production of arms engraved on to stone and which are also seals of office. There are no more than four or five of us in France, in different galleries, lucky enough to be masters in our art.
Originally this term ‘master of art' comes from Japan: the land of the rising sun, where the rulers maintained that certain people - known as "Living national treasures" - possessed an exceptional skill. These people are a part of living heritage. Throughout France, there are 63 artists and artisans, practising cabinet-making, leather work, engraving and restoration of books and manuscripts, who hold the title of "master of art". They are nominated by the Minister of Culture. It is a very honourable title, but there is more than that - one has to pass on this knowledge," explained Laurent Ivanoff.
Using tools made of diamond, the stone sculptors make the difference between the cameo and the intaglio by either striking the stone or by rubbing down the stone, so that parts are raised.
To give an idea of the detail required in this work, it takes 4 to 5 months of work to render a portrait in profile on a stone 30mm in diameter.
Having reached a certain level, commercially available tools no longer suffice: Laurent Ivanoff makes his own tools from copper and very hard boxwood, in which powdered diamond has been incorporated for strength.
Creation of jewels and small sculptures.
The fact remains that engraving is not enough to make a living: the clientele will be made up of official and traditional organisations, collectors (especially numismatists), individuals and local organisations, who would like their crest engraved on stone.
Above all the essential aim of the artist is to continue to learn and to be able to pass on his technique.
That the studio "Bize Arts" exists today, one could say is because of its diverse work, in the field of repair and of making jewellery or small sculptures, particularly in silver and bronze.
Laurent Ivanoff completes his unique pieces with attention to detail and a sense of their importance, the love of rhythm and the word**. The artist gives each of his works an intangible piece of himself, like a trademark. With great attention to detail, creations are made here, which are simply extraordinary: there are cicadas, olive branches, in silver, in the form of brooches, a bracelet conceived from the pattern of the bark of an olive tree, a bonsai olive tree in solid silver, with more than 200 branches... some of the works in metal incorporate native olive wood, or marble from Caunes-Minervois.
*Quote from Th. B. von Hohenheim (Paracelse).
**O. V. de L. Milosz.
Last Updated (Thursday, 09 September 2010 15:03)