Pierre Jean Tardiveau

My name is Pierre-Jean Tardiveau, I was born in Paris, France. My father is painted and he raised me, and my brothers, in a very artistic environment where curiosity and an eye for detail was encouraged. Since a child, I have been attracted by scientific discovery and history of the early 20th century.

My heroes are named Thomas Crookes, Heinrich Geissler or Nikola Tesla and my artistic sensitivity grew up within the reading of Jules Verne’s books, visiting the Eiffel buildings in Paris, the city where I still live today, and the wonderful period of Art Nouveau with Artists such as Hector Guimard, Mucha or Gaudi.

Even though I only got involved in Plasma Art very recently, I always had a clear and detailed vision of the creations I wanted to achieve. I have noticed that we have lost our fascination for some of the greatest inventions. Who is still amazed by an incandescent light bulb? Whoo is still astonished with a neon glow? how to bring back this wonder? I have decided a few years ago to give those questions an answer by bringing my vision to life.

I don’t blow my own glass yet, I collaborate with some glass Artists in France and Germany, I also share a workspace in a Neonist workshop to experiment with gas mixture.

I start the creative process with the search of a design that offer an undeniable scientific feeling, this is achieved with an intricate brass structure and some porcelain insulators, then the making of a casing offer the opportunity to bring a “time information” from the French 2nd Empire Era to the 20th and the Art Nouveau movement. Finally the magic and fascination are brought by the plasma.

The plasma vessel in my creation is not just the main element, it’s part of a whole and I hope that this whole will inspire curiosity to the visitor and that the plasma ignition will be the ultimate spark that bring fascination to life.