Michel Tisnès: Outside the box

by Ellen Turner Hall

Michel Tisnès: Outside the box

In the great tradition of creators of boxed assemblages, the artist Michel Tisnès has juxtaposed a multitude of disparate images, to pique our curiosity and sense of amazement. The curiosity cabinets which make up “Carnets de Routes” become a road map of life’s journey, with the flotsam and jetsam picked up along the way, encouraging comparisons and inspiring  wonder.

The work of Tisnès is densely packed in small compartments fitted together within an outer frame. From found objects of wood, glass, brass, steel, rope, shell or bone, Tisnès creates images of boats, sea, fish, machine parts, body parts, crosses, keys and skulls.

Michel Tisnès: Outside the box

What seems to be child’s play is in fact the fruit of years of collecting, sorting and arranging. The result is great puzzle – life in all its fullness and strangeness.  While you look into Tisnès’ magical boxes pairs of painted eyes stare back at you. They seem to question: Who are you? What do you see? What does it all mean? Go and be amazed!

The exhibition “Carnets de Routes” at the Chateau Royal of Collioure is open from 9h00 to 17h00 every day until 20 April 2015.

 

 

 

Côte Vermeille Stories

by Ellen Turner Hall

Hôtel Belvédère du rayon vert et autres nouvelles de la Côte VermeilleSince her childhood in New York, Ellen Hall has always been a storyteller. She has written and spun her imaginary world into tales to entertain herself, her friends, and now, a wider public.

In Hôtel Belvédère du rayon vert et autres nouvelles de la Côte Vermeille, now available in English and French,  Ellen portrays the 4 ports of the coast as seen by foreign eyes. In the process of discovering his village, each character reveals something about his own history.

Like her, their previous experiences are far flung. Like her, their knowledge and love of music influences their actions. They embrace their surroundings, sometimes seduced, sometimes seducers, sometimes deceived, often beguiled, never indifferent.

Their stories, twist and turn, basking in and buffeted by the eccentric charms of Catalonia’s rocky coast.

In these four stories, at least one of which is shortly to become a film, Ellen guides the reader on a voyage of discovery along the Côte Vermeille.

Available in both French and English from  in all bookshops and newsagents in the region. Also from FNAC and Amazon Amazon.fr

 

 

 

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