Demetre Chiparus
Demetre Chiparus Haralamb ( born September 16, 1886 in Dorohoi, † January 22, 1947 in Paris) was a Romanian sculptor and ceramic Art Deco. In the design chryselephantiner sculptures, he is one of the most important artists of the Art Deco. His sculptures often represent dancers of the Ballets Russes - as a symbol of the modern woman.
Chiparus ' Chryselephantinen achieve a high decorative effect due to its elegant, made of bronze, enamel and color crafted clothing, the strong stylization of shaped ivory faces and their long, slender appearance. They are among the bestgehandelten sculptures of the Art- Deco period. Most of them were created between 1914 and 1933.
Life
Demetre Chiparus was born the son of Haralamb and Saveta. In 1909 he went to Italy, where he studied with the Italian sculptor Raffaello Romanelli. In 1912 he moved to Paris to attend the Ecole des Beaux -Arts. There he was taught at Antonin Mercie and Jean Boucher. Here perfected his Chiparus Chryselephantin technique, in which he most decorated bronze and ivory combined and bronze elements by cold painting or enameling. His special attention was paid less the quality of the ivory carving, as the jewel-like decoration of bronze surfaces that gave his work a very unique appearance.
His first series consisted of children sculptures, which were very close to realism. It was shown in 1914 at the Paris Salon as part of the Salon des Artistes Françaises where Chiparus 1914-1928 exhibited throughout, including in 1923 the spear thrower and 1928, the Ta Keo dancer. Until the Second World War were Chiparus ' work supported by the Edmond Etling and Cie Foundry and Les Neveux de J. Lehmann and Goldscheider, but then the living conditions of the sculptor in France deteriorated dramatically.
Since the early 1940s Chiparus produced animal sculptures in the Art Deco style and was no longer working for the sale. His recent exhibitions at the Paris Salon of 1942 found the plaster sculpture polar bear and buffalo, as well as in 1943 with its marble polar bears and the plaster Pelican instead.
The largest collection of his work is now with 120 original pieces in the Art Deco Russian House in Moscow.
Style
Chiparus was inspired mainly by the fashion, the movies and the French theater of that time, as well as the ballets of Diaghilev and Leon Bakst's stage design.
Some of his sculptures were directly influenced by Russian dancers, Vaslav Nijinsky and example of Ida Rubinstein. In addition Chiparus took photos of Russian and French dancers and modeling from fashion magazines of the time.
The sculptures also evidence of Chiparus ' interest in Egypt. By the opening of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922, the ancient Egyptian and Eastern art collection was given to the French fashion. There are several sculptures that embody the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and Egyptian dancers.
Chiparus ' sculptures reflect his time - the years between 1920 and 1930 with its elegance and luxury they embody the spirit of the Art Deco era..