Gallery
The photographs
Selection of photographs from the exhibition. 40 numbered prints, format 100 × 133 cm. Signed prints, limited edition of 5 copies. Purchase a print or a copy of the film →
Nicolas Claris · Romain Claris · 2016
Relais & Châteaux Saint-James
Bouliac — May 3 to June 13, 2016
Opening on Thursday, May 19, 2016
Photo © Nicolas Claris — All rights reserved
Perhaps because in another professional life we travel a lot, following and pursuing yachts of all sizes, we cannot (nor wish to) escape this kind of romanticism, this emotion of seeing boats take flight: a sailboat heeling and accelerating under the effect of a gust of Mistral, a motorboat daring to challenge the height of the waves or lingering in idyllic anchorages. It is through the feeling of freedom they suggest that both sailing and motor yachts impress us with their permanent invitation to go further, to free ourselves from our constraints and our own borders.
In another life, we would love to be boats…
Not so long ago, we had the opportunity to photograph three châteaux, in winter when angels discreetly take their share while the barrels let themselves be, calm, asleep but benevolent… A carte blanche that gave birth to a beautiful exhibition in the Saint-James gallery, already! and to beautiful collaborations…
With our innocence as newcomers to this side of the earth, we made a fabulous discovery. Magical for boat photographers! Free, as one embraces the sea, we cherished the vineyards. As we discover new lands beyond the horizon, we met humble yet ambitious men of the land.
In another life, we would like to be châteaux…
Gateaux! A childhood name for desserts. At the sight of them, one can only keep a child's gaze, incredulity, excitement, even exaltation… Mentioning them sets our imagination aboil, waves of saliva invade us, make us swallow just before the moment — that too-short moment — when we can finally! give free rein to our greed, let ourselves be overwhelmed by the happiness of each of the five senses, of which only sight is the one we can try to convey here…
In our next life, we will be gateaux!
A photography and video exhibition by Nicolas Claris and Romain Claris
Relais & Châteaux Saint-James — Bouliac
May 3 – June 13, 2016
40 numbered photographs — Format 100 × 133 cm
Selection of photographs from the exhibition. 40 numbered prints, format 100 × 133 cm. Signed prints, limited edition of 5 copies. Purchase a print or a copy of the film →
40 prints 100 × 133 cm, 4 subjects: a carefully designed scenography. Photos: iPhone.
200 people at the opening, Nicolas Magie was busy in the kitchen… Photos: Sabine Calès.
Division of the Bénéteau Group, world leader in the construction of pleasure sailboats, CNB has been based in Bordeaux on the banks of the Garonne since 1987 and builds yachts from 18 to 60 meters, in aluminum or high-tech composite, sail or power. With over 90 units delivered to knowledgeable yachtsmen and luxury enthusiasts, CNB has gained unparalleled experience by meeting the highest technological standards. Numerous prestigious international awards have crowned this expertise. CNB is a member of the professional association Superyachtfrance.
162, quai de Brazza — 33100 Bordeaux
Lagoon is the cruising catamaran brand of the Beneteau Group. Lagoon offers a complete range of 13 models from 38 to 77' designed by the most award-winning architects in multihull racing history: VPLP. With over 4,000 catamarans built, Lagoon drew on its experience to launch the Motor Yacht range in 2015: motor catamarans, safe and easy to use with incomparable comfort at sea, and with significant autonomy that greatly broadens the horizons of their owners.
162, quai de Brazza — 33100 Bordeaux
Located at the gates of Bordeaux, in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, Château Haut-Bailly, a Cru Classé of Graves, has dominated a 30-hectare vineyard for over four centuries. A constant search for quality results in limited volumes, severe selections and constant modernization of equipment. In accordance with tradition, the vines are plowed, cultivated without herbicides and harvested by hand. The style of Haut-Bailly wines results from a subtle harmony combining finesse and concentration, suppleness and structure, sweetness of tannins and aromatic richness: the purity of elegance.
Château Haut-Bailly is an ancient and renowned vineyard, acquired in 1998 by Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers. With the help of Véronique Sanders, General Manager, the most precise and attentive care has been given to the vineyard but also to the redeployment of sales internationally. Today Haut-Bailly is one of the most appreciated Bordeaux wines on the planet, benefiting from the best comments from experts and critics.
Great lovers of contemporary art and admirers of the happy transformation of the city of Bordeaux, Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers have naturally associated with this exceptional wine a patronage approach dedicated to a few finely selected cultural projects.
103 Avenue de Cadaujac — 33850 Léognan
The four men at the helm of the Saint-James restaurant are Nicolas Magie: Chef de Cuisine, Sébastien Bertin: Pastry Chef, Richard Bernard: Head Sommelier and Fabio Rambaldi: Dining Room Manager. Sébastien Bertin — French Dessert Champion 2009 — is the creator of the desserts we present in this exhibition.
An 18th-century longère, it was transformed and enlarged in 1989 by Jean Nouvel. The architect then imagined four pavilions, connected to the original building, to create the hotel rooms. Pavilions that this native of Lot-et-Garonne wanted to be inspired by the tobacco drying sheds of the past. The architect even took care to preserve their rusty, weathered, flaking appearance, so as not to alter anything. His other commitment: to open the longère and the pavilions to the surrounding nature. To invite you to lunch, dine, sleep, stretch out, relax in the middle of the vineyards. An atypical and aesthetic achievement, now classified as 20th century heritage by the Ministry of Culture.
Nicknamed the "balcony of Bordeaux", because of its panoramic view, Bouliac has long attracted gourmets, food lovers and art de vivre enthusiasts. Even after the war, people came to this village nestled above Bordeaux to lunch, dance, get some fresh air, and have fun. Since 1989, one of the most beautiful 18th-century longères in Bouliac has been transformed into a hotel and restaurant. A chic and confidential address named Saint-James, after the famous street in the historic center of Bordeaux.
3 Place Camille Hostein — 33270 Bouliac
The story of the Bartons began in 1722 when Thomas Barton, an Irishman, settled permanently in Bordeaux to trade with his home country. He created a wine trading company there and within twenty years became an influential figure, whose reputation extended far beyond our borders and throughout Europe.
His grandson Hugh took over at the age of twenty, then strengthened the family trading business. Thanks to his energy and efficiency, Hugh Barton consolidated his fortune and decided to buy vines in the Médoc. Thus, in 1826, he acquired 50 hectares of the former Léoville estate, confiscated and divided after the French Revolution. He renamed his vineyard plots "Léoville Barton" to differentiate them from the others.
Subsequently, 4 generations succeeded one another at the head of the vineyard, but it fell to Anthony Barton to have traveled the world for 30 years to promote the very high quality of his wine and establish its reputation as a second Grand Cru Classé. It is also interesting to note that the Bartons are one of the last two families, along with the Rothschilds, to still own their châteaux since the 1855 classification.
Today, Anthony has entrusted the destiny of the properties to his daughter Lilian Barton-Sartorius, and the bond between them consolidates and enhances the international reputation of Léoville Barton. The long line of Bartons is clearly destined to continue, as Mélanie Barton-Sartorius, oenologist, and her brother Damien represent the 10th generation of Bartons present in Bordeaux in the wine world.
33250 Saint-Julien-BeychevelleThe masters of the game in their respective fields, their presence and support are simply indispensable to us.
Leading French sailmaker, created in the 80s, Incidence is No. 1 in France and in the global top 5. The quality of Incidence's sails and service is recognized worldwide, and every day its master sailmakers and young design engineers work hard to honor this recognition. Incidence teams have just developed DFi®, a high-tech filamentary membrane that is particularly resistant, stable and light.
Drawing on its experience in offshore racing, Incidence is present in all sectors of the boating industry: major French and foreign yacht builders, regattas, classic yachts, cruising, super yachts, sailing liners…
Incidence's offshore racing record:
Victories: Vendée Globe: 4 — Route du Rhum: 3 — Transat Jacques Vabre: 11 — Solitaire du Figaro: 5 — Mini Transat: 5
Trophies: Jules Vernes: 6
Records: around the world: 2 — Atlantic crossing: 9 — over 24 hours: 3 — Mediterranean crossing: 3
VPLP is a young team of internationally renowned architects and designers based in Vannes and Paris; they work on sail and powerboat projects worldwide.
Innovation is what guides us, not the look of our boats. We love "why not?" rather than the somewhat conventional "we've always done it this way". It is the toolkit we use, a combination of our own calculations and processes and those of our partners, that allows us to safely push plans and materials to their limits at a definable cost. Paradoxically, it is this very approach of pushing boundaries that has always kept us one step ahead… for 30 years. It is this approach that has produced every Route du Rhum winner for 20 years… It is still this approach that guides us in designing boats for Bangladeshi fishermen so that they can build safer and more efficient ones.
The Lagoon 42 benefits from a real effort and weight control by the yard and a good balance of hull and sail plan. The rearward position of the mast here gives its full potential because it is associated with a boat that is responsive and accelerates. The obsession with weight is in our racing DNA — to be put into perspective in the context of designing a cruising boat above all comfortable. It is very interesting to see that this level of comfort can be combined with agility and performance allowing the route to be extended in a completely satisfactory way.
For the Lagoon 630 MY we preferred to address those who prioritize quality time over speed. The happiness of life on board is made of those good times spent with those you love. The approach adopted by Lagoon and VPLP is to offer the possibility of this quality time in a comfortable and harmonious setting at sea as well as at anchor.
— Marc Van Peteghem
Created in 1987, Merex Yachts specializes in crewed sailboat management and cruise marketing. The CNB 95 Grand Bleu Vintage and the CNB 76 Léo, presented here, are among the sailboats we offer for charter, mainly in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Merex Yachts is a member of the professional associations Myba, Cyba and Superyachtfrance.
162 quai de Brazza — 33100 Bordeaux
An embassy in lands of passion. From the Gironde estuary to the gentle rolling hills of the vineyards, the Bordeaux region is a land of passion and excellence. Quality, art de vivre and high technology blend wonderfully. The Aston Martin embassy, based in Bordeaux-Mérignac, fits right in and naturally becomes a partner of the Bateaux, Châteaux, Gâteaux exhibition at the Relais & Châteaux Saint-James in Bouliac.
114, Avenue J.F. Kennedy — 33700 Mérignac
Philippe Briand's experience is impressive: after designing several boats that won the famous Admiral's Cup, the "12 meters" for the America's Cup for Baron Bich and Marc Pajot, his career continued brilliantly with the design of fast and efficient superyachts (including the 47-meter Mari-Cha III and IV) but also magnificent motor-yachts including the renowned Vitrius (50, 55 and 73 meters). The common denominator of all Philippe Briand's designs is their efficiency and elegance. Few naval architects today can boast of having more than 12,000 boats afloat today. Philippe Briand is the architect of most of the monohulls built by CNB, notably the CNB 76 and the CNB 95 Grand-Bleu Vintage shown in this exhibition. The boats designed by Philippe Briand have received countless awards and prizes worldwide. Philippe Briand is a member of the professional association Superyachtfrance.
53 Stewart's Grove — London SW3 6PH
Yacht Investor is an international publication dedicated to the super yacht industry and luxury lifestyle. Launched in 2012 to deliver a unique editorial content to super yacht owners, yachting professionals and international High Net Worth Individuals interested in the exclusive lifestyle associated with the super yacht industry. Its synergies include wealth management, luxury watches, jewelry, international travel, super cars, exclusive properties, private jets and a full section on Viticulture.
Its international circulation includes Europe, the Middle East and Asia with complementary promotion at international super yacht shows while also creating and delivering high quality video content targeted to the international Family Office and Wealth Management.
Target Market: 6,000 super yacht owners and 10,000 yachting professionals. A circulation of 30,000 copies of this bi-monthly magazine is distributed in France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, the UK and Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Puget), with additional distribution at key events such as boat shows in other locations, including the USA, China, the Middle East and emerging countries. Yacht Investor is also available worldwide on digital platforms including IOS (Apple) and Google Play through Magzter.
20 Orange Street — London WC2H 7EF
For all these offset printing jobs, Claris has chosen Print. The photographic work is sublimated by the quality and care taken in printing the shots by PRINT printing house, partner of the exhibition. Nicolas Brunaud and his wife Muriel Malabat have run this family printing house in Bègles for many years.
With a dual activity (Print Dorure for labels and Print Système for publishing) and a team of 34 people, they offer a service and printing solutions that provide real added value to creative works. They have made consulting and attention to detail a religion that allows Print to establish itself today as the printer of the Bordeaux Wine & Spirits industry.
Claris and Print have long collaborated on the printing of advertising brochures and luxurious editions. A film was made during the production of a book telling the story of a fabulous 30-meter sailboat built in Bordeaux by Construction Navale Bordeaux. It shows how trust and the same passion for uncompromising quality lead to the creation of an extraordinary book.
143, avenue du Maréchal Leclerc — 33130 Bègle
Central Dupon Images is a unique production workshop in Paris and Bordeaux offering all image-related services, from high-definition retouching to framing, including hand-made B&W silver prints, enlargements in 1.80m wide by 3m lengths in one piece to giant dry-mounting.
Central Dupon Images is the preferred partner of the largest cultural events and photography festivals in France and abroad, as well as museums and cultural institutions. Central Dupon Images in Paris has an exhibition program for photographers and public meetings.
Central Dupon Images has been Claris's preferred laboratory for over fifteen years. A fruitful collaboration in terms of image processing quality and photographic rendering. A great mutual trust has been built over time. As a guarantee of irreproachable quality, Nicolas Claris systematically entrusts Central Dupon Images with all the prints for his exhibitions, as well as those intended for his clients.
52 rue Giner de los Rios — 33800 Bordeaux
RICOH IMAGING COMPANY LTD is one of the undisputed leaders in the manufacture of digital cameras and imaging, particularly with RICOH and PENTAX cameras, which inherit almost a century of know-how. Its wide range of products includes weather-resistant SLRs, hybrid compacts, expert and "outdoor" digital compacts, a medium format for professionals, a wide range of optics, flashes, and binoculars. Recently, the range has been enriched with the RICOH THETA: a camera capturing 360° spherical photos resulting from the research and development of the new technologies department.
RICOH IMAGING supports and assists Nicolas Claris, like a number of French (10) and European (28) photographers.
Parc Tertiaire — 7-9 avenue Robert Schuman — 94513 Rungis
Limelight practices the art of light, sound and video. For thirty years Limelight has taken on the challenges proposed by its clients, to which technical, artistic, creative, lighting, economical and energy-efficient answers are provided. Rental, service, sales in the fields of light, sound, image projection — Design and production of shows.
200 Cours Balguerie Stuttenberg — 33300 Bordeaux