Join the dance...

Auteur : Ariane | 12-04-2010

I primarily contacted Constance after learning that she designed the set in the solo "The Tightrope" for choreographer Angelin Prejlocaj ... a true marvel!  I won't hide from all of you the fact that I am very passionate about dance and therefore easily seduced by choreography and set designs.

Constance diffuses, and this the perfect word to describe it, her burgeoning talent through her azimuthal poetic creations in multiple applications: set design, objects design, and videos.

Between her degrees (ESSEC, Sciences Po, ENSCI in 2007), her participation in competitions (she won the prize of the City of Paris and was a finalist for Hermès with "The Tightrope"), and her projects at the VIA (Industrial promotions in furnishings), Constance is a true whirlwind...

How does she make this all possible? Does she have a magic formula? No, she's simply a visionary who has the drive to fulfill her desires.  It is her sharp eye that we recognize in all of her creations which makes the difference, a stylish uniqueness.

For orders or personal projects, Constance uses her imagination in her creations to impress and delight us. The objects that she designs like "Vertigo" or "Dancing Chair" have sleek lines and rounded contours with no beginning and no end, inviting movement and gentle stillness.

I was particularly won over by her clear and simple way to explain her creative approach to the convergence of concrete observations, listening skills, dreams, and intuition.  Her pure creations display this, where reality invites illusion.

Check out her website: www.constanceguisset.com to find out more.  You will be surprised and seduced by her remarkable creativity.

You can find Duplex in limited edition at Specimen, www.specimen-editions.fr. This fascinating piece is part of the permanent collection at the National Fund for Contemporary Art.

Petite Friture (or Small frys), among others, produces the light fixture Vertigo. www.petitefriture.com
It is also on sale at the Museum of Decorative Arts shop or on the Internet for approximately 700 € TTC.

In the meantime, The Cocottes appreciate that she has agreed to interview and be a part of the cocotte group! Yes!

What made you choose the field of design and decoration?
As a child, I wanted to do a job that was intellectual while using my hands. I wanted to be a woodworker, a surgeon, a decorating business owner, a cultural adviser, a politician, an artist, a gallery owner, and finally I ended up as a designer. I studied general subjects that I was passionate about (ESSEC - Science-Po), to finally end up working in culture as a director of a gallery. In parallel with these studies, I was doing sculpture and carpentry.
Today I think I found exactly what I needed, a job converging creation, technique, culture, society, listening, dreaming, and turning a project into reality.

How did you create your universe and what is the background?
It is difficult to speak about one’s own microcosm yet alone to know from where one’s ambition comes from. To understand the true foundation it is easier to describe it on the one hand by theory and on the other by understanding the earlier confluence of intuition, sensibility, that is used to focus on each project.

What did you learn from your experience with the French Institute in Ankara, for example, while creating the “Star Collection”? And with Angelin Preljocaj?
All collaborations are meaningful. The project at the French Institute was my first project dealing with space. It was exciting for three reasons. First, we had to find a solution for all the problems involving the site. It was a bustling area and a corridor into a classroom.  This inspired me to create furniture that formed a constellation of circular shapes that could be easily modified. Secondly, it was a collaboration with a Turkish architect and craftsmen, discussions were in English and with a translator, which required great simplicity and uniqueness to design the objects. Finally, it was all about the building and a public commission.

Concerning the collaboration with Angelin Preljocaj, I am still dumbfounded as to how lucky I got to work on this project with and for him. He had an intuitive trust in me and we had a good time together while completing his creation.  I also realize that this project was a turning point for me and for my career.

From where do your inspirations for a new creation come? Is it a certain desire, a color, or a new material...
Life is my source of inspiration. Nothing in particular, it can be very unexpected: A glance at someone in the subway, a visit to the museum, a shadow, or a shaft of light. The projects are nourished by observation, but also from previous work. There is no specific rule.

I see a lot of scope and movement in your designs, how do you manage the volume and 3D?
Everything starts with intuition, then research and desire. Once this alchemy is made, I start drawing models. I really enjoy the transition to volume. I quickly make small-scale models and test the sizing. A project requires a lot of time and work. The beginning and end of projects are the most enjoyable moments with the models of research.

Is your business an agency or studio? Is it part of your home? Do you sometimes work in teams?
My living space is separate from my workspace. I will soon settle into a new atelier in Paris, with a small team of an assistant designer and an intern.

Do you expose your work in galleries or other places?
I have not been so lucky, but I'm in no hurry.

What artists do you particularly like?
Anish Kapoor, Bruno Munari, Robert Filliou Castiglioni, Marc Couturier, and dozens of others ... I like to choose favorites but they change frequently as I often see art exhibits.

What are your likes in design or decoration?
Over 50% of graduates in design are women. A few years later, I feel that less than 10% of independent designers are women. This is a sign that it's harder, or could be perceived as so, for a woman to become established in this business as in many others.

What are your likes in design or decoration?
Life brings choices; I am not in a pre-established pattern ...

Your future?
I am currently working on a dance set design project with star dancer-choreographer Jeremy Bélingard. But also, and more importantly, I am working on many projects involving objects. In the upcoming days will be the first screening of a 14-minute film for the planetarium of Saint-Etienne, Spacecraft. It was a difficult and technically demanding project, and I look forward to seeing the final result!