Biography
FROM EARTHLING TO GLASSLING
Born in 1959 in Montélimar (Drôme, France). Seventh child in a family of seven children, with parents who first were farmers and then became traders. His youth spent with his brothers and sisters, among animals, in a village, and also with some journeys around the world.
After studying dental technics, he became a bookseller on markets. Finally at the of 25, he took over the family farm and his father’s lands. He became a farmer.
Ten years later, he experienced a couple break up, a rupture. New encounter, new momentum, his vision of the world changed, with a desire of light. He decided to switch to organic farming.
At last, respect for Motherland, respect for his children, respect for Human beings. This need to express a different way of farming, and to gradually turn himself into both farmer and sculptor.
He very early felt that the farm equipment ended in scrap dealers’ hands. He felt like transforming it, like raising it, like connecting it with both wood and glass in order to create an artwork.
Statement
A tribute to THE least things of the PAST
Bernard Froment achieves artworks with these old tree stumps, those old worn pieces of metal, always assembled with reclaimed glass, a little bit of him, a little bit of us, in an intense moment of Life. To remain in silence.
From the wood to the man, he chose to leave an intimate trace of existence. Both wood & men are linked, connected by the deep reality of the living. All those pieces of wood, often abandoned, were used and touched by the hand of man. Their memory is unaltered.
A NEW consciousness of LIFE
Bernard Froment prepares them as for a celebration day, he straightens them, offers them a new base and brings them a new germination, a spark of light, a new chance. The glass to express life and survival, for and with the joy of being born, and reborn.
His approach demonstrates strength and fragility of Life. The Light emerging with Glass-splinters in his artworks, vital to our Lives, moves us slowly forward the generosity to love over and over again.
a deep ecological awareness
His artistic approach is empowered with the awareness of holding the Beauty, the goodness and the generosity of Nature. What else than trying to always find the color, the shape, the fragile momentum of a Human encounter ?
To him, Art is essential : it denounces, it challenges, it relieves, it heals. As a farmer or as a carver, his wish to take care and to feed Living beings, body and soul, remains intact.
“Feed, grow, let grow in every wheat grain the finest spark of light.
Find in the tree the consciousness of chlorophyll.
With silica, with fire and with the man’s hand, find the initial Joy of being alive.
From its breakage to the rib, work to offer to Humanity a touch of fossilized Peace, a sculpture.
Always bring generosity nestled in one’s genes. Materialize one’s thoughts with strength and fragility. Caress the Light.
In Art, one may find resistance, resilience and rebirth.
Try to be as fair, as true, as respectful as possible in a momentum of freedom and fraternity.”
“ With the past, shape the Present in order to consider the Future.
From seed to seed, from exhibitions to exhibitions, in the meantime, be happy.
Always bring rebirth to remain in the essence of Life.
Endlessly, Exist. ”
“Ma Terre, Matière,
Assembleur de coups de cœur,
Emporté par la force et la fragilité,
Trouver et mettre ensemble du bois, du fer, toujours du verre.
Mettre en relation le presque rien dans la conscience du tout, pour offrir à l’œil une œuvre intime et finie d’où peut germer l’état d’être Avec.
”
Art, to love, to be reborn, to pass on.