Page 421 - Christian Maas Full Book

However, it would be wrong to see in this artist just a dilettante aesthete, distant from the preoc-

cupations of his time. On the contrary, his protestant roots induce him to help the most impoverished,

and the donations he multiplies are numerous. He puts his art to the service of great causes; whenever a
non-profit organization requests his help, he answers the calling.

Sales of his works would repeatedly serve the causes of the fight against AIDS, (Fightaidsmonaco

alongside of SAS Princesse Stephanie de Monaco), the research against cancer, or wine growers victims
of a natural disaster. He organized sales for the profit of Line Renaud’s association, Lino Ventura’s
Perce-neige Association, Brigitte Bardot’s foundation and many others more humble associations like

Enfants à la Montagne, charity founded by the pastor Louis Comte , which gives to the poorest children

several days of vacation each year. Tens of thousands euros have been rounded up this way in a few
years. Art for the benefit of the rejected, children of France, Brazil or Thailand: live donations.

A part of the contributions to Enfants à la Montagne came from the sale of a bronze half-boot

executed from the design of one belonging to Michelle Rongier, who disappeared in January 2003, a
childhood friend dear to Christian, to whom her death has been a true tragedy. Hence all his friends
were able to acquire this symbolic object and serve a cause in her memory.

Two encounters would constitute capital stages along his road. In 1994, he met Louis Cane, who
recognizes in Christian the mark of a growing artist. He encouraged him to pursue his work and offered
him valuable advices. In 1997, he met Jean Cardot, President of the Arts Academy, and again his talent

was recognized. This artist from Saint-Etienne taught Christian to refuse any compromises and to follow

his own path whatever happens.

And creations would multiply, accordingly to his imagination, but also to the most unexpected en-

counters. It is so, for example, that Christian wanted to realize furnishings, mixing and blending bronze

to precious woods; however he could not find the directing components.

The epiphany occurred in Grimaud, at Dadou’s place(Luc Besson’s mother). There he discovered

a piece of a fossilized mangrove used for oyster’s embryo conception, as well as a fossilized whale verte-

bra disc. All elements were reunited to constitute a furnishing line as he had foreseen it, by assembling
all these components, and transforming them into bronze. Other seashells and elements issued from the

Christian Maas 430 CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ Vol. II

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