Audrey Guimard

As a child I devoured books on Ancient Egypt, the treasures of Antiquity, biographies of artists, medicinal herbals and works on minerals.
I spent my free time riding horses in the mountains, skiing off-piste, by lakes and rivers and on boats.

Happy solitude as a starting point.

There is a Russian proverb that says “you can feed the wolf a lot but he always looks at the forest”, I deeply believe that our childhood illuminations constantly remind us of this. If we honor them by being in full possession of our adult means we are closer to our soul and by radiation we are fairer with others.

Understanding where we come from, that we are part of a whole, that by being open, humble, honest, generous, creative, supportive, caring but also demanding and fair, the circles open and we all respond to each other like in a large choir.

I am responding to a life impulse, I don't know where it will take me but the path is exciting, trying too, but the encounters through the projects that I am setting up confirm to me that I am right where I am.

AUDREY

Audrey Guimard, what is your background?

I have a background in art history and archaeology with a specialization in Egyptology and ancient Greece. I then joined a school of applied arts and scenography in theater and cinema, then I deviated towards museography and event scenography. But very quickly, all these materials that we used ephemerally and that we threw in the dumpster once the event was over led me to an ethical problem. I had to make a change and I also became a mother. As a child and teenager I grew up in complete freedom in a very small mountain village, I built cabins, I had horses, I drew, I tinkered, all of this remains engraved in me. I have always shared my time between agency projects and my personal practice at the studio, after this radical awareness, I realized that it was the place where I was truly happy and that I had to develop my own projects in accordance with my ecological and artistic sensitivity and my life choices!

How do you recognize yourself in Valentine Gauthier’s collections?

His universe is elegant and strong, his colors vibrant, his materials refined.

In my work I understand volumes, I am sensitive to the cut of a garment, to its architecture.

When we move, the garment dances, occupies the space, Valentine's creations are also distinguished by their movement, like mobile sculptures that capture the light.

What is your relationship with fashion today? Has it changed?

Even though I am still as admiring of beautiful creations, my financial situation does not allow me to afford dream pieces! My savings mainly go into purchasing equipment and materials for my projects. If I have to choose between an alligator saw and a pair of shoes, the choice is made. Even if I watch my budget, I do not consume fast fashion just as I do not set foot in supermarkets. It is a lifestyle choice that I apply at all levels.

Do you also believe that nothing will ever be the same again?

Yes, definitely, and this phenomenon is accelerated by the health crisis we are experiencing. I think there is an awareness of life and a collective awakening. We all realize, more or less intensely, that we are arriving at the end of a system that belongs to the past. I have the feeling that spirituality is developing and that we are moving towards more solidarity. I was very close to my grandmother, who was from a modest background. In her time, we sewed our own clothes, we arranged them to make them last. We banned waste, we cooked leftovers... we must return to this common sense and to a frugal joy.