Are Art and Skiing Becoming Inseparable?
When most think of a winter getaway, they imagine wooden chalets, melted cheese, mulled wine and, of course, lots of skiing. However, recently another thing has been coming into the mix, more and more each year… Art. It’s impossible to have a holiday in the French Alps without noticing new pieces here and there, and once you start to notice them, you will be spotting art everywhere you go.
Perhaps you haven’t heard of the name Stéphane Cipre, but no doubt you will have seen his work on the platform at the top of the Bellevarde all season in Val d’Isère. His piece ‘GoToSki’, a Fiat 500 stuffed with skis was a huge success with locals and tourists alike, amassing thousands of photos on social media taken by lovers of his work. Stéphane is an incredible sculpteur of small and large polished aluminium works, where, in the majority of his sculptures, he plays with words. You can see his work ‘Art’ displayed in our chalet Le Rocher all season.
But art isn’t just for the slopes. Many holidaymakers are interested in more than just skiing. As well as the best chalets, best food, and best drinks, they also want to experience the best art the world has to offer while on holiday too. To reflect this, we have collaborated with Jane Griffiths, owner of the International contemporary art gallery Galerie Jane Griffiths in Val d’Isére to bring artwork into our award-winning chalets.
In Chalet Le Rocher you can see work by Anthony Lister, a Melbourne based self-taught street artist who has done incredible work, including graffiti versions of Van Gough’s flowers and Degas’s dancers. Lister, represented by Banksy’s agent in London, is certainly one to watch.
Also in Le Rocher is work by the renowned artist Cécile Plaisance. Plaisance is an unusual photographer, best known for her lenticular photos of Barbie in various guises. Inspired by Pop Art paintings, and influenced by Pin-Up illustrators like George Gross, Kiraz and his Parisians, Edward Runci, Cécile using her art to break down the myth of women being objects. “I wanted to unclothe the idol of our childhood, as a kind of gesture of support for women around the world.”
If abstract art is more to your tastes you can see the work of Cédric Bouteiller, a multi-talented artist who continues to delight and surprise collectors, in Chalet Le Rocher also. His subjects include cityscapes, street art inspired graffiti compositions, icons, and his recent abstract works which have been compared to Japanese painter Zao Wou-Ki.
Back outside, you may have spotted the elegant bronze sculpture ‘la Sarrazine’, or Lady of the Lake, sited on the shores of the reservoir overlooking the old village of Tignes. This iconic sculpture you can also now spot inside too. A miniature version in on display in Chalet Le Rocher.
Chalet Marco Polo, situated in the heart of the French ski resort of Val d’Isère, won Best Ski Chalet in France two years in a row and is now up for the award once again. Well known, not just for its Christain Lacroix designed gold-leaf swimming pool, but also for its true masterpiece of style. Displayed in the chalet is work by Bernard Pras, a French installation artist and photographer who creates fascinating images in 3D, which are then photographed and sold as images in 2D.
Whether you’re splashing out on a luxury all-inclusive catered chalet holiday, or living off pot noodles and skiing all day long, it’s apparent to all that this art revolution is here to stay. Whether you enjoy artwork just for a winning Instagram photo (like with Richard Orlinski’s sculpture above), or for deep contemplation, art is making its mark on the skiing industry. It is now impossible to think of a winter escape without also thinking about what new pieces you’ll see on your stay, and how these pieces will impact your view on the stunning scenery and your stay in the mountains this season.
To visit an art gallery while on holiday, we highly recommend stopping by Galerie Jane Griffiths in Val d’Isére.
