1. Where were you born and where are you from ?

I live in Begium, Fontaine l’évêque, i’m from Namur in Belgium.

2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?

the first time i have been connected to the art world , it was unconsciously at the beginning of my life, when i see nature, for me, art is everywhere in nature.

3. Have you always worked in the art/design field ?

no, i was a steel craftsman in industry before.

4. What led you to the design creation ?

passion of handmade, the liberty, the happiness sensation when i created , the possibility to transmit a message.

5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?

my creative process is a transmission of my moment feeling, my moment emotion.

6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?

i always start my work day with a cup of coffee ! but the reel beginning it was yesterday, when i thinked , when i dreamed that i will do this or that. after coffee, i look raw materials during some times, and inspiration come to me. depending of my inspiration , i start with woodworking or steel working or stone working. i work until my spirit is connected, i take a break when i feel it. the day is a mixed of works, thoughts and emotions. it’s different every days .

7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?

wood and stone, it’s for me very inspiring materials. nature have a lot of witnesses of past, in wood it’s the story of weather , in stone it’s the story of the earth ! very fascinating for me.

8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

it’s a mixed of old technicals, like shou sugi ban, tenon mortise, welding, stone working and no conventional methods too.

9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?

he must trust himself, he must listen himself and let yourself be guided by your inspiration . rest will coming.

10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?

i not define me in a design movement, i am inspired by contemporary art , african art, japanese art, nature obviously , so i let people judge where they see me

11. What designers have influenced you ?

georges nakashima
axel vervoordt
pierre soulages
david nash
nature

12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

kaspar hamacher
yann dessauvages
arnaud declercq
benoit viaene
frederic saulou

13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?

ileana moro
pierre soulages
jojo corvaia
katrien doms

14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?

authenticity

15. Is there anything you would like to add ?

for me it’s a privilege to be in this interview so thanks for that

Proust Questionnaire with very short answers (one or a few words) :
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde, Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

the perfect happiness come to me everyday when i open my eyes and i see nature, family and friends

2. What is your greatest fear?

disappoint poeple i love

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

i am stubborn

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

lack of open-mindedness

5. Which living person do you most admire?

my wife

6. What is your greatest extravagance?

i will tell you that after a few drinks

7. What is your current state of mind?

full mindedness of all in my life

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

charity

9. What is the quality you most like in a man ?

sincerity

10. What is the quality you most like in a woman ?

being a woman is already a quality

11. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

if you are happy, i m happy too

12. Which talent would you most like to have?

know how to paint

13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

be more calm

14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

be a good husband

15. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

a eagle

16. Where would you most like to live?

in a mountain chalet

17. What is your most treasured possession?

the memory of my grandmother

18. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

the war

19. What is your favorite occupation?

do bread

20. What is your most marked characteristic?

i am sensitive

21. What do you most value in your friends?

sincerity

22. Who are your favorite writers?

jean d’Ormesson

23. Who is your hero of fiction?

batman

24. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

nelson mandela

25. Who are your heroes in real life?

my grandmother

26. What are your favorite names?

elie

27. What is it that you most dislike?

hot weather

28. What is your greatest regret?

be an artist earlier

29. How would you like to die?

smiling

30. What is your motto?

less is more