The Meisenthal Centre International d’Art Verrier (CIAV), International Centre of Glass Art Works, confronts the vision of contemporary creators and the technical culture of a territory. For fifteen years now, the CIAV has been collecting old glass blowing moulds that are still in working condition in order to constitute a technical reserve, incarnating an object of research as well as a conservatory.

In 2011, on a proposal by the publisher Bernard Chauveau, the CIAV invited designer Régis Mayot to work in their studios. After a great deal of experimentation, the artist was able to emancipate himself from the performances of classical usage of the moulds, and brought forward the “mould as a tool”, whose aesthetics are the result of the technical, mechanical performances that are incumbent to it. By a process of sand moulding, the designer revealed the mechanical beauty of these tools, producing prints of a selection of moulds that were then blown by artists in glass.

The original functional tool then becomes an astonishing object with an unusual aesthetic aspect. Jeanne et Cie (named after one of the moulds chosen by the designer, accompanied by the following ones) may now parade peacefully, reminding us upon this occasion how important it is to not just see things, but to take the time to really look at them.