A BIC at the castle

 

Rather surprising! To understand its meaning, just go back a few decades. More precisely in 1978 when a visionary industrialist decided to change water into wine... This industrialist was Baron Marcel Bich, founder of the BIC company.

 

A miracle ? Not at all. Baron Bich simply sold his shares held in a brand of mineral water to buy Château Ferrand, whose story began in 1702. Elie de Bétoulaud, lawyer, poet, courtier, patron and visionary urban planner, had Ferrand built.

He wants it in homage to Louis XIV, built on a perfect site, on the heights of the Saint-Emilion vineyard, with an exceptional view of the Dordogne valley, enjoying a mild climate. Alas, the much admired Sun King never came to Château Ferrand, which was bequeathed by Elie de Bétoulaud to his great-grandnephews by a rather original process: namely a poetry contest!
It was not until 1978 that the Château de Ferrand changed hands.

Today, it is Pauline, the daughter of Marcel Bich, who presides over the destiny of Ferrand with her husband Philippe Chandon-Moët. Under their impetus, major works were undertaken: restructuring of the vineyard, ampelological study of the soils, adaptation of grape varieties to the terroir, modernization of the cellars, multiplication of vats to allow plot management. Cultivation methods are also redesigned. Nearly 10 hectares of woods, meadows and a park of old species are preserved next to the vineyard for an environmental balance. The entire vineyard is in organic conversion. A commitment that is bearing fruit: in 2012, Ferrand becomes a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion.

The Château de Ferrand wine seduces with a garnet color, an intense nose of ripe and spicy fruits. The attack on the palate is frank, the tannins are coated. The evolution is towards notes of very ripe red fruits, blackcurrants, raspberries, blueberries, and a long and elegant finish.

 

Since 2007, the château has also had a second wine: Le Différent, which can be enjoyed young. Its finesse and aromatic elegance make it a pleasant wine to drink in all circumstances.

 

Bic Art

But back to the famous BIC®. Since the launch in 1950 of the BIC®Cristal® ballpoint pen, many artists have used it to create drawings, sculptures and installations. Iconic for many artists, this ballpoint pen is now an integral part of our culture.

In 1998, during an exhibition on Marcel Bich organized by the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta (region of origin of Baron Bich), some of these works were presented. Bruno Bich, director of the company, had the idea of building a collection of contemporary art whose works would be freely produced with the brand's products or inspired by them. This BIC Contemporary Art collection now brings together nearly 200 works by international artists.

 

The family also acquires major and historical works made with BIC® products. Some of these works are exhibited in several rooms of the Château de Ferrand. To see them, you have to stay at the castle in one of the guest rooms…

 

Or attend a tasting with a sommelier, a gourmet meal... Absolutely fabulous, the fresco depicting the landscapes around the château created with a BIC® ballpoint pen by the artist Alexandre Doucin on the walls of the tasting room.

 

Under the impetus of Pauline and Philippe Chandon-Moët, Château Ferrand has become a place that not only cultivates great wines but also art and culture.

 

L’humble BIC

 

Until August 31, the Château de Ferrand in Saint-Emilion is hosting the L’humble BIC exhibition. The Musée de la Création Franche unveils a selection of works from its collections. “L’Humble Bic” was born from an observation, that of the overrepresentation of the ballpoint pen in the collection of the Musée de la Création Franche.

 

 

The use of a ballpoint pen is indeed extremely frequent among authors of art brut and related art. Tool of simplicity, cheap and democratic, it is for self-taught creators an "easy", immediate medium, in line with the spontaneity of this form of expression. Indeed, we all have a ballpoint pen at hand! What could be more natural, more obvious, to camp your creative impulses. Used alone or mixed with other techniques, this “common tool” finds itself transfigured in the production of certain authors. Line of urgency or layers of ink, subtle monochrome or explosive colors, varied techniques and patterns... the uses of the ballpoint pen are multiple and testify to the creative freedom of authors of art brut and related art.

 

This is what this exhibition will set out to show. “L’Humble Bic” comprises 62 works from the collection of the Musée de la Création Franche, produced by 24 creators of 9 different nationalities. With, Pierre Albasser (France), Hervé Aussant (France), Giuseppe Barocchi (Italy), Karl Beaudelere (France), David Braillon (France), François Burland (Switzerland), Ignacio Carles-Tolrá (Spain), Jean-Louis Cerisier (France), Jean-louis Cougoulou (France), Maggie Daems (Belgium/Switzerland), Ted Gordon (United States), Kurt-Joseph Haas (Switzerland), Pascal Jacquens (France), Alain Lacoste (France), James Lancaster (England), Viviane van Melkebeeke (Belgium), Gene Merritt (USA), Jean-Michel Messager (France), Damian Michaels (USA), Bruno Montpied (France), Jakob Morf (Switzerland), Marilena Pelosi ( Brazil), Claudia Sattler (USA), Damian Valdes-Dilla (Cuba).

 

CHÂTEAU DE FERRAND, Saint-Hippolyte, F · 33330 SAINT-ÉMILION,
tél : + 33 (0) 5 57 74 47 11