Malvan 1968 and other bas-reliefs

Another of Marcelin’s works that I acquired early in our relationship is the bas-relief, “Malvan” (Fig 1). It appears that Marcelin made a number of bas-reliefs in the mid- to late-1960s. On the back of Malvan is the code, 68BR09 (Fig. 2). This suggests to me that Malvan was the nineth bas-relief that Marcelin produced in 1968. I have found other bas-reliefs that have come up for auction on the internet; “Krates” (Fig. 3), code 67BR30 (Fig. 4) and “Pinzon” (Fig. 5), code n(?).6363 (Fig. 6). In a photograph, taken shortly after their marriage in 1965, there is a picture over Roseline’s left shoulder that also appears to be a bas-relief (Fig. 7). In Krates and Pinzon, Marcelin has set various objects made of glass, stone, wood, porcelain, and/or metal into epoxy resin. For Malvan, and presumably for the other bas-reliefs, Marcelin made a “mold” out of the plywood back and fibre board for the four sides (Fig. 8). The yellow visible at the edge of Malvan (Fig. 8) may be some kind of sealant. Into this mold, Marcelin would have poured epoxy to a depth that wouldn’t completely immerse the objects he placed into it. Marcelin told me that for Malvan, he took a piece of the wire mesh from the back rest of the driver’s seat from a Citroën 2CV and embedded it in epoxy. Once the epoxy had cured, he would have added a frame and spread bees’ wax over the surface of the epoxy and the embedded object(s). I know this about the bees’ wax because I accidentally got some water on the surface of Malvan which caused the bees’ wax to go cloudy. Marcelin had to heat and buff the wax to get it clear again; he was not pleased. Ever since then, I have been very carefully to keep water away from this bas-relief. After almost 50 years of ownership, Malvan is still one of my favourite pieces. I think that the rust colour has intensified over time because, as Neil Young observed, “Rust Never Sleeps”.

Fig. 1. Malvan. 1968. Bas-relief. 50.8 x 77.5 cm (20 x 30.5 inches).

Fig. 2. Malvan back.

Fig. 4. Krates back.

Fig. 3. Krates. 1967. Bas-relief. 35.6 x 24.1 cm (14 x 9.5 inches).

Fig. 5. Pinzon. 1963. Bas-relief. 44.5 x 43.8 cm (17.5 x 17.3 inches).

Fig. 6. Pinzon back.

Fig. 7. Roseline and Marcelin in New York, June 1965.

Fig. 8. Detail of Malvan showing a yellow substance, possibly used as a sealant.