I was born in Nice, French Riviera, and I grew up nourished by the very special light of the Côte d’Azur, where nature and architecture mingle. I was also very touched by the brilliant masters from the school of Vallauris, from Picasso to Roger Capron; for me, ceramics are a key element of architecture – nature – landscape.
MAGAZINE · INTERVIEW
Olivia Cognet
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Interview
Where were you born and where are you from?
What is your first memory connected to the art world?
I have always been connected to my inner artist, almost in an autistic way.
For me, this is the only prism I can see life through… so I don’t think I really have a very first memory… everything was about Art since I was little.
Have you always worked in the art/design field?
Always, this is the only thing I can do!
I worked for 15 years in fashion before moving to ceramic art. I also did a bit of illustration; every time I see something, I want to resketch it or reinvent a new object’s aesthetic. At the end of the day, designing a shoe or a bench is exactly the same work with different techniques and skills.
What led you to design creation?
I worked at many other jobs when I was younger, and I did not feel exactly in my natural place. Design – art – creation are my sweet spot, the place I am supposed to be; there is no other option 😉
How would you describe your creative process and its influences?
SKETCH – to me, sketching is a system of thinking… I start by looking at global inspirations, new techniques I have never touched, or materials; then I start sketching my dream object … I sketch a lot until it gets right… When I think it is good, I will focus all my energy to make it happen, to realize it the way I envisioned it.
Could you describe a typical day of your work?
I arrive early at the studio around 8:30. I check the team, say hi!, have a little coffee, and then I start to take care of all kinds of emergencies with my fresh morning brain… they can be anything! When this is done, we start to share work; we are 5 ladies working at the studio, we need to be organized all together to make things happen and to have the production ready.
I am not only an artist, but I have to be an Entrepreneur and keep my business healthy.
If I want to make my pieces more creative and more monumental each day, I need to invest in my future vision and to bet on it.
Why did you choose the specific materials you work with?
Ceramic is noble; you can do anything or everything with a piece of mud. We are very self-efficient in the industrial process of making a life-lasting object from scratch without damaging anything. I love that, meaning no boundaries for creativity; technique is the limit, and you can always train yourself to be better and to improve your skills.
What are the technical particularities of your creations?
My pieces are big, and hopefully they will get bigger and bigger!
So, in ceramics, because of the firing process, you need to know your clay’s specificities, its reactions, tensions, and frustrations… We break a lot, and each time we do, we learn something new. Being humble, persistent, and resilient is the key.
What advice could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works?
Don’t try to copy; experiment with different materials, and you will find your own language…
I always say that this is what you do while doing that.
So roll up your sleeves and work, work work work work!
If your works had to belong to a design movement, how would you define it?
IDK – Cool happy French girl from L.A – PARIS – VALLAURIS … lol.
What designers and artists have influenced you?
I love architects in general, their point of view, making a volume that is so big and where you can live or do something, and seeing that as a sculptural piece of art.
Here are some names that influence me every day: Jacques Couelle, John Lautner, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, Eileen Gray …
What contemporary designers do you appreciate?
I love this new movement of designers who are on the edge between Art and Design; this movement is very special, and I hope it will continue to grow. Transversality is, to me, the best way to see things.
What contemporary artists, in any kind of art, have you been inspired by?
Constantino Nivola.
If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be?
A dialog between Art, Nature, and Architecture, Sensual, Brut, Sculptural.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Nice meeting you!
“You can do anything or everything with a piece of mud. Meaning no boundaries for creativity; technique is the limit, and you can always train yourself to be better and to improve your skills.”
The Questionnaire
The Questions
(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…)
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Laugh and learn everyday
What is your greatest fear?
Fear sucks, I don’t want to have any fears
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Impatience
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Being negative
Which living person do you most admire?
Mother Nature
What is your greatest extravagance?
My leopard outfits in the studio
What is your current state of mind?
Excited
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Religions
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humor
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Humor
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Is it Prosecco time?
Which talent would you most like to have?
Flying
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Remove my double herniated disc injury
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
It will come soon, but I don’t know yet
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
The sea
Where would you most like to live?
In a place where the light is nice and the nature rich, and where this is not too cold
What is your most treasured possession?
My son, eventhough he is not my possession
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Missing food
What is your favorite occupation?
My work
What is your most marked characteristic?
My enthusiastic energy
What do you most value in your friends?
What they are…
Who are your favorite writers?
Unfortunately, I don’t read; I fall asleep all the time. I am such a hyperactive!
Who is your hero of fiction?
Marcel Pagnol.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I have no idea!
Who are your heroes in real life?
My entourage, my neighbors, my friends, interesting people, entrepreneurs.
What are your favorite names?
Jean-Michel, Mireille, as generic names to call anyone.
What is it that you most dislike?
Bitterness.
What is your greatest regret?
That I forced on thet discs… lol.
How would you like to die?
Laughing.
What is your motto?
What does not kill you makes you strong. So, just do it.
“To me, sketching is a system of thinking.”
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