Leontine Furcy
Ceramic artist, tells his story in shapes, textures, curves, asymmetries, purities. Each piece is a unique and instinctive creation guided by the material in search of a free sculptural form, an obviousness. The earth is the vector of the exploration of his inner world, and his creations the multitude of what composes it. Indeed, it is an endless work, which aspires to find oneself without defining, to accept oneself without judging oneself, to abandon oneself in letting go and to free oneself from the dictates of uniform and rationalized beauty, the one that we convey as the truth of beauty everywhere.
“ There is no perfect beauty, only a certain singularity of proportion ” – Edgar Poe
Marion, you are the creator of Léontine Furcy. What is your background?
I have had a long life! Before becoming a ceramicist, I started in audiovisual and cinema in staging and then in decoration. Afterwards, a few years I did scenography for companies, but I needed to have “a gesture” on the things I wanted to create. I needed touch so I went looking for the material, clay. I had already worked with metals, but I felt the need for something softer. Clay is accessible, there is an undulation when you model it, something round, a curve, it becomes hypnotic sometimes! It recenters, it takes who I am. With it I have to let go, let myself be guided, agree to let things happen. It is a dialogue.
What do you like about Valentine Gauthier’s collections?
I discovered Valentine when she had her first boutique. I like her sensual materials and her structured cuts that are also very feminine. I find myself in this complementarity. But it is especially her personality that seduces me: she is instinctive and whole. We have one thing in common, the lines, which I can compare to the first gesture that drives my work.
Do you wear colors?
I like them all, it depends on my mood. At the moment I like purple. My choices tend towards plain, but my interest is mainly in materials, I particularly like velvet. I never buy online because I can neither touch nor try. My sense of touch is very developed and I am very sensory and sensitive to the noble materials that Valentine uses.
What is your relationship with fashion?
I look at what is being done but I am not obsessed and above all I adapt according to my means. I perceive the world through my emotions so I do not constrain myself with appearances. I do not hide behind an outfit. A piece of clothing certainly contributes to identity, but it can also be a decoy, a costume behind which one hides. In any case, I get ready less and less because my work in the workshop is dirty! I have workshop outfits yet I like to dress up. The ideal are clothes that go from day to evening with just the help of an accessory. I am not the type if I go out in the evening to put on my sequined costume!
Do you also believe that nothing will ever be the same again?
I'm not sure, there will certainly be an evolution but we are resilient, we adapt very quickly to change. I imagine that there will be an evolution that our approach will be different, but deep down I don't think we will change that much. On the other hand, the current situation that we are experiencing allows people to reposition themselves, to purify, to reflect, to refocus. Everyone is getting back to their own rhythm
In the famous world after, what element of the world before could you not do without?
Meeting places: human, epicurean and cultural that allow surprise and discovery. Places that nourish us intellectually, make us broader, bring us closer to others.
Do you systematically look at the made in of a garment or accessory? Are you sensitive to upcycling approaches?
Today we realize that we all have things in our closet that can be reused. I have a crush relationship with clothes. I can buy a piece that I like without having the money. When I like a piece, I wear it until it wears out, or even buy two! I like second-hand clothes that I mix with current pieces and I buy from friends who sell vintage. For objects, I like those that tell a story, so I prefer to buy things that have lived rather than going to Ikea. Of course, I sometimes fall for a beautiful designer object!
And Valentine’s approach?
Valentine's ecological approach touches me, in my way of consuming it is an indicator, but above all it embodies her brand. She does not have a classic business leader approach, she is rich in her creation, she wants to share and we feel that she is attentive to the products she sells to customers. We feel that she does not commercially abuse her ethical choices. Moreover, if we want the world to change, there must be an awareness of the consumer but also of the creators and makers. We consumers are ready to pay more than fast-fashion but we know why, on the other hand, the creators must remain accessible and not abuse this label!
