Elise Fouin where the Design is in Motion
Auteur : Ariane | 07-04-2011
Intelligent and passionate, Elise, as a child, was unaware that the design profession even existed!
Painting classes that she attended led her towards the arts field for the rest of her career.
She was accepted at the Ecole Boulle, where she above all learned her craft and a true savoir-faire. Her degree in Gold and Chasing of precious metals’ was not enough for her, as it lacked in creative research ... So she continued her studies and earned a degree (DSAA) in furniture design.
Immediately, Elise began to work for Andrée Putman and with many other interior designers with whom she brings a sensitive touch to objects and colors in a particular space.
When the department store Galeries Lafayette asked her to create Jewelry in Dubai, since she has embarked on a career on her own!
This magnificent project as set designer for a year, serves as a springboard, and soon she returns to her calling: the materials and their derivatives which leads to the conception of an object.
Elise has always been very committed to the concept of recycling «waste materials» which may end up being her «raw material».
Her curiosity led her to visit a paper recycling factory, Paprec, it is here that it all starts to take shape and form.
She collected some samples from here and experimented with finesse the possibilities. Her experiments, just like the characteristics of paper,drove her to create around the various aspects of this material resulting in the manufacture of lights.
The hanging lights «Lucinda» are of recycled polystyrene and refers to the movement of coils that unroll like dancers who whirl.
This creation is succeeded by a collection based on this theme between light fixtures and furniture ...
Nothing is added, only the material is transformed, simply beautiful!
In 2009, Elise Fouin worked on the recovery of maritime pines by immortalizing the damage of the forests in Landes after storm «Klaus» of the same year. A local wood company entrusts her to create lamps from unused wood later called «storm lamps» and received special mention by the jury at TADI 2009.
The composition of the poles creates an arborescence evoking the reconstruction of a tree. The assemblies of the various poles are done thanks to the «sleeves» and can remind one of a band that has just dressed a wound.
Elise won the prize in 2009 Face of Design (Berlin) for the ensemble of her work.
In 2010, «Talent à la Carte» at Maison & Objet revealed her paper lamp project, «Gigotte» and the same year «Wood Storm» was presented at the Biennial of Design in Saint-Etienne where «storm lamps» illustrated the part of the exhibition dedicated to the memory. Superb!
Elise’s first words translate her free will: «to be independent in this environment and to distinguish one’s ideas, it takes hours and hours of work and there is little time left of one’s private life! To find balance it is a matter of belief, perseverance, and courage!»
What knowledge have you taken from your early experiences?
Humility and a confidence in myself to work independently.
In relation to a creative project: from where does the inspiration in materials come?
This job naturally induces curiosity, observation, and experimentation. To not have a priori the materials so called noble or poor, does not categorize. Anything can have potential depending on how it is worked.
As a true observer, traveling nourishes me as much as my daily life, subjects that I photograph, or those lying in a drawer for a long time before i use them for a project.
When responding to specific order, I adapt my approach, I use my sensitivity to nourish the order and find a solution that corresponds to both the brand identity and my designer’s beliefs.
After all, the challenge is to take the reins of the project until the end so it does not reduce in importance.
Your workplace?
A room in a workshop overlooking the rooftops of Paris, an office with «My Mac» and a countertop for the models, the cut outs, the more manual work ... Some pictures that I have enlarged and developed and a large library of books, materials, found objects...
The role of women in design, what do you think?
A Workinprogress!
The artists that you like?
Tokujin Yoshioka,
The places you like to go to in Paris, or in your favorite city?
Along the Saint Martin canal, the two cinemas MK2,the restaurant Chateaubriand for the delight of the eyes and mouth! Chez Aki, rue Saint Anne to feel transported to Japan at lunch time, and recently Aki bakery across the street for dessert!
In Bordeaux, I always make a detour to go to the CAPC
Your musts in the decoration?
I admire the Japanese design, Nendo, Tokujin Yoshioka and Japan fascinates me.
If you were a place?
An enormous workshop to do whatever I want!
If you were a color?
Red
If you were a piece of furniture?
A light fixture
A favorite object?
Slightly bizarre glass objects and pottery bowls
Your ideal home?
A large bright space, high above with both my living space and a large workshop, with on one side, a garden, and on the other, the city...
Your current projects?
Right now I work for «Galeries Lafayette» in Casablanca, the Champagne Ruinart, and I am creating a wallpaper «Winepaper,» a carpet with Chevalier Edition, a study of redressing the floor for Tarkett, light fixtures for Forestier Edition and a secret box for Granville Gallery in late 2011.
What inspires you at the moment?
The perspective of vacation, prone to daydreaming is always a source of inspiration!
Could you recommend other women in this field or creations, where talent and audaciousness combine?
I talked about cocotte design with Victoria Willmotte, what an opportunity for the cocottes!
Elise Fouin was part of our exposition «Cocotteversation, beyond the Blog» in the gallery Espace 13 as part of Designer’s Days 2011. She exhibited her forest of lights called «Storm lamps»!
These beautiful creations need to be seen to be understood ethically, it’s part of the message of Designer ...
Thank you Elise for all these discoveries, the wealth, and your time… A true discovery!
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