Artisan of nature, noble porcelain

Renaud Sauvé was born in Montreal. For a several years, with his family, he lived in Africa in Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. He received his first initiation in turning clay at college, then a full-time course - 1990-1991 - at the Centre de Céramique Bonsecours in Montreal. Subsequently he worked with various Quebec potters. He studied philosophy at university, touched upon other professions and artistic media (painting, fresco, mosaic) and travelled several continents as a stagehand for Cirque du Soleil. In 2008, he finally established his own workshop in Ireland, a small municipality in the Bois-Francs, and there began production of turned porcelain pieces. Each piece is turned and decorated by hand before being baked in an oven.

His ceramic work is nourished by life inasmuch as it is elemental: "My sources of inspiration are many. Certainly nature is  principal. The simple act of living in the forest, open and receptive to what is going on. I'm trying to reconcile what I see and what I feel, as a slow way towards a calm and quiet life. I seek to develop a sense of transposing designs from nature or from my domestic environment. I conceive my work as a dialogue with nature and also a dialogue with the history of ceramics and porcelain in particular. "

Renaud Sauvé is inspired by the Asiatic ceramics of China, Japan and Korea, where  porcelain originated. To his mind, the pieces that come from these countries have reached such a level of sophistication, sincerity and authenticity that anyone who wants to work with porcelain cannot ignore this tradition. He also appreciates the rich decorations of  Persian and Islamic ceramics.

His pieces are sold in some speciality boutiques in Montreal, Quebec and Toronto.

LOCAL POTTERS

Meet the Quebec artisans who are passionate about the objets and art of tea. Every two months, pieces by a different designer will be presented in this unique showcase, giving you the chance to enjoy the great quality and diversity of the work of some of our local potters.