This summer, British Columbia’s Mission Hill Family Estate will host an art exhibit by renowned French sculpteur Nathalie Decoster. Available to the public at no additional charge, the Sculpture Exhibition will run until October 2011, featuring more than 50 of Decoster’s brut works of steel, bronze, aluminum, and concrete. Her signature hoops reminded Proprietor Anthony von Mandl of the rings that bind wine barrels.
“What immediately struck me about Mrs. Decoster’s art were the curved hoops that cradle her human forms to create a strong visual connection between the art and the outside world,” said von Mandl. “These curved hoops are akin to the metal hoops that hold together the precious barrels that age our wines and are essential to crafting exceptional wines.”
Decoster’s works have been exhibited in Paris, London, Vienna, São Paulo, and Venice; Mission Hill is her first Canadian showcase. The sculptures will be situated throughout the Estate: in the vineyards, wine cellars, and tasting areas.
“We hope Mrs. Decoster’s work resonates with visitors as she plays with the notion of sharing dreams to build connections between people,” said von Mandl. “We believe this same connection speaks to what we are trying to accomplish as winemakers. The parallels are undeniable and we invite art lovers, or the merely curious, to visit Mission Hill to discover the magnificent work of sculptress Nathalie Decoster.”
Decoster lives and works in Paris; her early work with decorative art studios led her to perfect her sculpting technique with an old-school master. She employs vocabulary recognizably her own: an “art brut” figure is her messenger represented in minimalist geometric structures which convey philosophical messages about the human condition. Nathalie Decoster makes us conscious of the absurdities in our modern human lives.
A great pairing with wine, indeed!
Mission Hill Family Estate is world renowned for its award-winning wines, stunning setting, architecture, and Cuisine du Terroir-influenced Terrace Restaurant. For more information, visit www.missionhillwinery.com or follow the Estate on Twitter @missionhillwine.