Pauline Bonnet
Philtre ou Poison? 009

This glass vase by Pauline Bonnet is covered in delicate swirls of colour and resembles the surface of an ancient jug. This work is part of the "Philtre ou Poison" (potion or poison) series, inspired by ancient Roman glass cosmetic bottles, flasks, and vials which held balms, perfumes and ointments. Each work is made by hand: sometimes clumsy and chubby, or sleek and sensual, the variations and imperfections imbue every vessel with a unique character. The domestic objects represent an elsewhere and perform a fictitious interior, which the viewer is invited to participate in. This vase can be paired with Pauline’s other larger glass piece, fitting together in a playful reinterpretation of the ancient art of hand-blown glass which dates back to the Middle East in the early first century B.C. An emerging artist based in Marseille, Pauline experiments with colour, texture and various materials to create sophisticated objects that question the status of decorative art.