OTTAWA,
ON, Oct. 3, 2023 /CNW/ - On the
100th anniversary of the birth of legendary visual
artist Jean Paul Riopelle, the Royal
Canadian Mint is issuing a new $2
circulation coin recognizing his status as one of Canada's, and the world's, most influential
artists of the 20th century. The captivating artwork
showcases a section of Panel 29 from his monumental fresco
L'Hommage à Rosa Luxemburg, that features acrylic and
spray-painted silhouettes – including the emblematic birds seen on
this coin. The fresco is largely composed of symbolic
representations of the life he shared with his long-time partner,
American painter Joan
Mitchell. This special coin honouring Jean Paul Riopelle's immense contribution to
Canada's cultural heritage begins
circulating today.
"Through the coins we issue every year, designed by artists from
coast to coast to coast, the Royal Canadian Mint is a creator,
promoter and supporter of Canada's
visual arts," said Marie Lemay,
President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "On the 100th
anniversary of Jean Paul Riopelle's
birth, we are delighted to issue a commemorative circulation coin
honouring him as one of our greatest artists, whose talent and
vision influenced a dynamic period in global artistic expression
and touched admirers of his work and fellow artists in Canada and around the world."
The artwork appearing on the reverse of the 2023 $2 circulation coin honouring Jean Paul Riopelle offers a small yet poignant
glimpse of Riopelle's acrylic and spray paint 1992 masterpiece:
L'Hommage à Rosa Luxemburg. The immense 40-metre-wide
triptych, consists of 30 separate panels rife with natural imagery
and coded symbolism. It was painted in tribute to his lifelong
partner, Joan Mitchell, upon her
passing in 1992. Created at Riopelle's studio on Ile-aux-Oies, an
island in the estuary of the Saint Lawrence River near Quebec City, the fresco features the recurring
theme of bird-like silhouettes, two of which from Panel 29 appear
on the reverse of the coin. The coloured version of the coin
captures the original colours of this multi-media masterpiece. The
obverse of this coin features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
"I consider Jean Paul Riopelle to
be one of the greatest Canadian artists of all time and,
importantly, a true cultural hero, both here in Canada and internationally. I admire the
artist for his energy, his uncompromising artistic freedom, and his
deep love of our country's breathtaking landscapes. Through this
commemorative tribute, the Royal Canadian Mint is joining the
Riopelle Foundation for these unprecedented celebrations, forever
engraving his memory in Canadian history," said Michael J. Audain, OC, OBC, Chair of the Jean
Paul Riopelle Foundation.
Jean Paul Riopelle was born
October 7, 1923, in Montreal, Quebec, and died March 12, 2002, in Isles-aux-Grues. Demonstrating
his artistic prowess from an early age, Riopelle studied briefly at
the École des Beaux-arts de Montréal before moving onto and
eventually graduating from the École du Meuble in 1945. It
was during this time that he painted with the famed
Automatistes, a group espousing a philosophy of painting
from the subconscious mind and with spontaneity. He moved to
Paris, France, in 1947 and became
the only Canadian whose work was presented at the 5th
International Exhibition of Surrealism staged at Galerie Maeght, an
important moment in the history of surrealism.
Briefly returning to Montreal
in 1948, Riopelle also helped draft and signed the Refus
Global manifesto, an anti-establishment declaration by artists
and intellectuals challenging the closed nature and prevailing
beliefs of the socio-religious order in Quebec, which sowed the seeds of the 1960's
Révolution Tranquille, a transformational period in
Quebec political history.
Over his roughly 45-year career, his work was featured in more
than 200 group or solo exhibitions in art capitals all over the
world (Sao Paulo; Mexico City; Venice; New
York; London; and, of
course, Canada). Among other
accolades, Riopelle represented Canada at the 1962 Venice Bienniale and
received a UNESCO Prize. He was also recipient of the 1958
Guggenheim International Award and was made a Companion of the
Order of Canada, as well as a
grand officer of the National Order of Quebec.
The significance of Riopelle as an artist stems not only from
the beauty of his work, but that it touched several of the
19th and 20th century's important art
movements (Automatism; Surrealism; Lyrical Abstractionism; and
Abstract Expressionism) while remaining distinct, original, and
aesthetically stunning. His work, transcending a wide range of
media from paint and sculpture, to mosaic and collage, consistently
demonstrated his connection to nature, not only as a subject, but
as a source of inspiration and guiding principle from which his
work drew its essence. In addition to the aesthetic appeal of his
work, his role as an artist who pushed boundaries and remained at
the cutting edge of some of the mid-20th century's most important
art movements is a critical component of his legacy.
Limited to a mintage of three million coins, of which two
million will be coloured, this new $2
circulation coin begins circulating on October 3, 2023. It will reach the public
through ordinary change as bank branches and businesses
replenish their inventories of $2
coins.
The coloured and uncoloured circulation coins are also available
as collectibles in a seven-piece Collector Keepsake coin
set. They are packaged in a richly illustrated collector card
that also contains uncirculated versions of classic 2023-dated
circulation coins in every denomination, from five cents to one
dollar.
Other collector products adding to the celebration of
Jean Paul Riopelle include:
- Coloured and uncoloured special wrap rolls of 25 uncirculated
coins each;
- A 1 oz. pure gold engraved version of the circulation coin
design, crafted of gold sourced exclusively from Quebec mines; and
- A 2 oz. Extraordinarily High Relief $200 Pure Gold Coin featuring Riopelle's 1970
sculpture Petit hibou, also exclusively crafted from
Quebec-sourced gold.
These collectibles can be ordered as of today by contacting the
Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada,
1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca/riopelle.They
are also available at the Royal Canadian Mint's Ottawa and Winnipeg boutiques, as well as through the
Mint's global network of dealers and distributors, including
participating Canada Post outlets.
About the Royal Canadian
Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for
the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is one of
the largest and most versatile mints in the world, producing
award-winning collector coins, market-leading bullion products, as
well as Canada's prestigious
military and civilian honours. As an established London and COMEX Good Delivery refiner, the
Mint also offers a full spectrum of best-in-class gold and silver
refining services. As an organization that strives to take
better care of the environment, to cultivate safe and inclusive
workplaces and to make a positive impact on the communities where
it operates, the Mint integrates environmental, social and
governance practices in every aspect of its operations.
For more information on the Mint, its products and services,
visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on LinkedIn,
Facebook and Instagram.
Images of the circulation coin are available here.
SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint