It is the 2nd of December 2017 and we meet with Valérie Stalport at Galerie Chappe on Montmartre in Paris. It is just 177 minutes before a very unique event will take place at this illustrious location. The right time to get ready with some drops of Miumori. But first of all let us go back a bit more than one decade, to where the story begins.
By studying calligraphy Valérie Stalport got in contact with Chinese and Japanese culture in a deeper sense already more than 10 years ago. Being fascinated by calligraphy as well as other arts from China and Japan, she got in contact with the leaves of a legendary plant. This plant is not only said to be the source of inspiration for many artists. Some artists and philosophers also see this herb to be a source for achieving supernatural powers.
Maybe, these are some of the reasons that Valérie Stalport finally decided to found a place, which deals with the leaves of this herb. So it came that she founded neo.T. on Montmartre 10 years ago. But neo.T. is not just a place dealing with green leaves, yellow leaves, blue leaves and red leaves of this plant. Neo.T. is much more than this. Valérie Stalport’s neo.T. is a kind of melting pot. A melting pot of leaves, music and arts like rare ceramics, that come from French artists as well as from Japanese and Chinese ones.
Our Mizucha Bar is already set up. The first guests arrive. For today’s event we infuse green leaves with hot water as well with cold water. The glass carafes, of which I heard that some people also use them for Whiskey, are perfect for cold leave infusions. Besides this, we use them at the Mizucha Bar for storing the water. Green leaves like the Miumori Asanomi are prepared during todays event with hot as well with cold water. For the warm water infusions, we use Japanese ceramics and porcelain.
Naturally, we also have the Morimoto Mizudashi by neo.T., which tastes great with any water temperature. But I guess, our most favourite Morimoto Mizudashi is usually quite cold. How about serving it in a glass with ice cubes? Or even with some White Port? Yes and differently to usual days, today the Miumori Asanomi from Shutaro Hayashi is served with Champagne !!
The music of today’s party is created by the two musicians Mélissende Letty and Fabio Kumori. Mélissende’s beautiful voice and piano impresses today’s guests with the performance of a very special song. Mélissende composed this song for Valérie Stalport and her neo.T.’s 10 years anniversary.
Fabio Kumori, who usually plays for Mimikoto, today surprises the guests with an “electroacoustic bass beat synthesizer performance”. For one song, namely “opening flowers”, Mélissende improvises with her voice on the sounds created by Fabio. During the performance, her voice floats on a shimmering loop of hundreds of lightly swishing notes from Fabio Kumori’s acoustic bass. Then, a clacking beat comes out from the unexistent silence. Finally it connects with the vocal’s melody and the bass sounds, that turn into a quite funky mode.
Before Mélissende starts performing her song for Valérie, she explains with some words about the content of this song. The party turns into a silent place for some minutes. All guests begin to listen to the song. There in no other sound than the beautiful voice of Méllisende and the tones of the piano. Now, even the Mizucha Bar takes a break. Only the lights stay shining in a bright green.
Next to the champagne bar we find a great place to enjoy something unique. The art prints of Nikosan have a strong connection to Japanese and Chinese culture. Especially leaves and leave utensils are the topic of his art prints. Most of these impressive art prints are only printed in very small series. Of his flower vase or the black matcha bowl only 5 or rather 3 copies have been printed. A good reason to be fast. Just get Nikosan away from the Champagne Bar and buy one of each of these great prints.