A Journey into the World of Minerals
Caroline Besse’s art form blends gallery pieces and bespoke creations, resulting in unique, handmade works. Using washi paper or textiles, she paints with vibrant colors extracted from gems and minerals, such as lapis lazuli, malachite, tiger’s eye, and jade. This produces a rich, textural quality that interacts captivatingly with light. Besse’s textile-based works are particularly mesmerizing, and Boccara Gallery is thrilled to present this artist and her breathtaking silk organza piece, Particles.
For over two decades, Caroline has integrated environmental consciousness into her approach, employing traditional methods and natural materials. The colors, binders, glues, and washi paper she uses offer an unparalleled, lasting chromatic quality.
Caroline Besse’s mineral artworks are an awe-inspiring testament to the beauty and depth of the natural world, reimagined through the lens of contemporary art. Drawing inspiration from the rich textures, colors, and forms of minerals and gemstones, Besse’s creations offer a unique synthesis of scientific observation and artistic intuition. In her work, she explores a deeper connection to nature, using minerals to reflect on humanity’s complex relationship with the environment. By incorporating natural materials that long predate and will outlast us, Besse’s pieces invite contemplation of our fleeting place within the vast, ever-evolving natural world.
This deep interest in nature led her to experiment with minerals as a medium for her art. Using a combination of hand-crafted techniques and modern innovations, she has developed a distinctive style that showcases the stunning physical properties of minerals while simultaneously highlighting their symbolic and aesthetic qualities. The mineral compositions in her pieces are not only visually striking but also carry with them stories of millions of years of geological history, creating a profound connection between the viewer and the natural world.
Besse’s expertise extends to working with large formats and experimenting with the effects of light and space on color, making her an expert in bespoke creations. She produces unique projects for architects and decorators, enveloping spaces with the poetry of mineral colors. Her works on paper and textile are mounted on various supports: walls, furniture, or presented in large-format compositions.
