The Soul of an Artist - Charlotte Caulliez
YD: We’re launching our Soul of an Artist series with you, Charlotte! Can you tell us about your work as an artist-ceramist … and how you interact with the world through your spirit or your soul as an artist?
"I aspire to make objects with a soul, utilitarian or decorative objects that will last, and that will accompany the development of a part of life or even a whole lifetime, for why not!
I try to put a little bit of my soul into my designs; I like to think that my pieces look like me. They are simple shapes, colors that speak to me, textures and materials that move me. Each piece is unique, even in a series of plates or small bowls, each object has its own identity. I like to think that even in a series, each piece remains unique.
I see in this profession a true communion with the material; to be anchored, to work the clay and the designs in my workshop, but also to share, to connect to others through my work and their views on my designs. I also love to transmit my passion for ceramics during a discussion or an improvised workshop."
YD: You say the colors you gravitate to are inspired by Nature.Can you tell us more about that ?
"I really love to play color, marry tones, find new shades,
The colors inspired by nature fascinate me: the plant world and its innumerable shades of green, the colors of changing weather as well. I often talk about the northern skies and the light that reveals dark blue greys and then in the very same day, sketches a sandy beach with warm tones.
I am also very moved by the mineral world, the strength of matter, the mystery of rocky deserts, the softness of sand dunes.
I am naturally drawn to colors with soft and subtle nuances, with depth. I like to tell myself that the color of the object is never totally the same according to the angle from which it is viewed.
With ceramics, the colors can vary depending on the enamel bath or the position in the oven for instance. It’s a little magical every time we open the oven door!"
YD : Can you tell us about your sources of inspiration?
"Nature is precisely one of my major sources of inspiration, in what it brings that is perfect and incredible in terms of creatures, and interactions between species, but also the spaces created, for example, by erosion, by the strength of a canyon or a forest or the softness of a beach…
And with the same idea of meeting the Other : travel also inspires and nourishes me: discover other’s savoir-faire, rich cultures and passionate craftsmen. Discovering in a more intimate way how others eat, sleep, live and die in other cultures can be extremely eye opening!
I am also passionate about modern and contemporary art since a very young age, with a palpable emotion when faced with works of the 20th century masters. I spend hours in the gardens of the MAEGHT foundation in St Paul de Vence, strolling through the works of MIRO, CALDER, GIACOMMETI..."
YD : In our field of textiles, we often talk about gestures to evoke weaving, drawing or brushstrokes in watercolor; we talk about the “hand” of a fabric to describe its touch… Can you tell us about your experience of gesture in the practice of your art?
"« The gesture in ceramics is the hand. The hand does not master, it accompanies. The gesture comes to maturity, for me, when learning and repetition allows the head to forget the hand. The hand dances, the brain rests, and lets go of the hand. The hand has the memory and makes the gesture to create the object.
I use several techniques to shape my pieces, throwing has a hypnotic and almost meditative side in the sequence and repetition of gestures. If we are in the right rhythm, everything flows in a fluid and obvious way, and with a pleasure to feel this accuracy of the gesture. But if the mood or the context are not there, I don’t insist, …I’ve learned to let go! We can’t force the earth, we’re just partners!
Touch is also very important for me, the material, the grain … I work a lot on the contrasts of textures, just as much on the everyday pieces as on the decorative objects."
YD : You are also a client at Yves Delorme and we love how you mix our products in your own way! Can you share with us what attracts you to the brand?
“What I love about Yves Delorme is the expression of an traditional savoir-faire, and the history of a high-quality French House. The use of noble materials, the respect of these materials in the production process.
In reality, everything is about respect for people, whether they are craftsmen, professionals or customers. Beautiful materials, beautiful objects that last, a savoir-faire that is transmitted … in fact, our trades and our values are finally very similar!”
