Sunday 2 November 2014 Shanghai Daily12 ART

An amoosing time for millions viewing cow parade

Sculptures of Rodin protégé brought to cityWang Jie

ScuLptures created by M.L. Snoden, a protégé of French master sculp-tor Auguste Rodin, are on display in Shanghai thanks to a California

couple.Guy Simard and Eve-Marie Bilodeau,

who own Galerie Simard Bilodeau, one of the top art galleries in California, brought the works to the Rosamonde Aviation Louge at the Peninsula Shanghai. The exhibition runs through November 9. It includes several working tools once used by Rodin and Snowden, one of the most renowned sculptors in North America.

The couple keep a fully occupied sched-ule as they shuttle between their galleries in Montreal and California. As successful art consultants and established collec-tors, they have a strong view of global art market trends, including those in China. Bilodeau answered a few questions in a recent interview with Shanghai Daily.

Q: Can you use three adjectives to de-

scribe the sculptures created by M.L.

Snowden? Do you remember your first

response when you saw her works?

The work of Snowden can be described as a magnificent expression of nature’s powerful energy: breathtaking, impres-sive and monumental. The first time I had this profound connection with Snowden’s work is when I saw her sculp-ture called “Spiral Helix Y.” It felt like everything stopped around me: time, sound, people. This is a very precious moment, when you fall in love with an artwork and it becomes like a magnet for your soul.

Q: What do you think is the key to suc-

cessfully operate a gallery?

First and most of all, it takes passion, dedication and involvement. It is a very demanding business. As owners, we work seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day and the vacation time is very rare. People have a tendency to only see the glamorous side of it, but it is so much more than that. The glamour aspect oc-cupies just a very small percentage of the involvement that owning a successful international gallery requires.

Q: You mentioned that you did some

survey about the Chinese market

before entering the local art market.

What were the results?

We were able to understand that the Chinese art collectors are ready to ac-quire Western fine art. They are curious and eager to discover new art. The fact that the local market is not overly satu-rated with the type of art that we present is an added motivation for us. They are sensitive to bronze sculptures and highly appreciate them.

Q: What do you think is the main at-

traction of bronze sculptures to Chi-

nese collectors?

The fact that you do not see many sculptures in public spaces and galleries in China makes it more attractive. It is a very different art expression compared to others. The three-dimensional aspect of a sculpture makes it very alive. The sculpture allows the viewer to interact even more with its representation by being able to move around it. Each angle reveals a different expression. It becomes very dynamic. Our Chinese collectors seize this profound enjoyment.

Q: Usually each gallery has its distinc-

tive taste. How do you find yours?

There are many important elements that we analyze before choosing to present a new artist in our collection: aesthetics and talent, the purpose of cre-ation, credentials, how this work will be received on the different markets we ex-plore, potential of growth in credential. Each artist that we choose is high-caliber. Their work is not just decorative but is fine art.

Q: Which Chinese artist impressed

you the most?

That is a question that we are asked often and that I find very difficult to an-swer. The Chinese culture is so rich and diversified; it has so much to offer. And I feel that I still have many more artists to discover before I can set my mind on one in particular.

Q: Have you have any disputes over

art with your husband since the open-

ing of your gallery? How do you over-

come that?

Until now, my husband and I have not disagreed on the selection of artworks we had to do. We believe that art is very personal and that we should respect the other one’s view and taste. There is no right or wrong when it comes to an artwork that brings profound wellbeing to someone. Of course, we trust each other’s judgment because we share the same views in terms of high-standard selection criteria.

Q: For this coming Shanghai Art Fair,

how many works will you bring? How

many are bronze sculptures?

We will present 35 sculptures, mainly bronze and a few lucites, and 20 original paintings. A collection from five sculp-tors from Canada and USA; and three painters from USA, Italy and Mexico.

Q; Your gallery relies much on art

agents to spot the artists for you.

What’s the advantage of such prac-

tice and is it popular among Western

galleries?

Actually, it goes both ways with the artist agents. Sometimes we will present artists to them who have approached us. This allows us to focus on the collectors, developing foreign markets, but specifi-cally making sure that the value of the artist’s work is in constant and stable growth. The agent monitors and man-ages the overall career of his artist, so he can focus on his creation. Each one’s role is very well determined and it works very well. You do see this model among Western galleries but not all works this way. For us, it is a successful model.

Q: If you could use millions of US dol-

lars to buy a piece of art from an art-

ist, whose work would you buy?

I would not use it all for only one artwork. I would use it to acquire sev-eral important pieces. I am thinking of Renaissance masters painters and sculptors, modern artists, contemporary, Chinese art from different periods. ... This is not an easy question!

Jerry Elbaum

Wang Jie

DURING the National Day holi-day, many locals in Shanghai were drawn by 50 colorful and eye-catching cow artworks placed around six city land-marks, including the Bund, People’s Square and the Shang-hai Museum. The work was launched by Shanghai Media Group and Halcycon Gallery.

Jerry Elbaum is the US part-ner for this cow parade project. In 1998, he discovered in Zurich the concept of using life-size, three dimensional fiberglass cows as props for public art exhibits.

He brought the concept to Chi-cago in 1999 and founded Cow Parade Holdings Corp. The firm produced 500 cows for a New York parade event in 2000 that was seen by 50 million people. It catapulted Cow Parade onto

the international stage. Here in Shanghai, Elbaum

was informed by the organizer that the cows were visited by at least 900,000 people daily at the Bund and by more than 1 mil-lion at People’s Square during the National Day holidays. The 75-year-old was in Shanghai and talked with Shanghai Daily.

Q: Did you expect such a pas-

sion from the Chinese people

toward cow parade?

Yes, cow parade is especially appealing to children. Every-where around the world, I find the smiles radiating from the faces of children are the same.

Q: What’s the importance for

cow parade as a piece of suc-

cessful public art?

Education. Art education is es-pecially important for children

to fully extend their imagina-tion and show them how art can lead to creativity.

Q: Is this your first trip in

Shanghai?

No, I visited China in 1984 and I stayed in the old Peace Hotel at that time. But now dra-matic changes have taken place in this city and country.

Q: What impresses you most

in Shanghai?

Architecture.

Q: Did you choose the venues

to display cow parade?

No, my Chinese partner chose these venues. In my eyes, the Bund is a perfect venue for cow parade.

Q: Did you even think of other

animals to replace cow?

No, cow is a friendly animal in almost every culture around the world. People like cow. It is a universal animal.

Q: What’s the next stop for

cow parade?

Maybe Japan, Canada or Co-lumbia. Shanghai is the 80th city for cow parade.

Q: The cows in the cow

parade are painted by differ-

ent people. What is the crite-

ria in selecting these people?

There is no certain criteria. Some famed people are invited to paint on these cows includ-ing some artists, but children could also be invited to draw on these cows.

Q: When will these cows be

dealt after the exhibition?

They will be auctioned for charity. Here in Shanghai, I know that the money will be used to help disabled children.

Q: How do you benefit from

cow parade?

Achievement. I feel proud to bring different cultures together and teach the children around the world. It’s about fun for the families, and the meaning of my life and my full-time job.

Sea Creates

Lightspire