Interview by:

New Norm Magazine

Photography by:

figures

Country:

Paris, France

Social:

http://studio-figures.com/

https://www.instagram.com/studio_figures/

figures, a functional creative studio, in search of material enlightenment. Works encompass products for the living environment with a high preoccupation for materiality and experimentation. Positioned on the interface between industry and art, figures creates pieces characterized by conceptual design, clean aesthetics, and functional forms. Pure shapes meet with subtle colorway for a reduced aesthetic.

Inspired by the stable structure of architecture, geometric forms, and free shapes. Manufacturing is based in France with a core value to be made from the best available especially regarding material, precision, and fabrication. Vision is to create straight forward functional aesthetic design with an eye for contemporary living. The result is the maximum intensity with the minimum of means. Claire Cousseau & Gabriel Loirat, founders of figures.

- Claire Cousseau & Gabriel Loirat, founders of figures

Reflect

Embracing slower living

1. Where are you from / call home?

Claire & Gabriel: We are both from France. We respectively lived in different countries (Netherlands, Switzerland, China, Germany…) before moving back to France. Figures studio is based in Paris, where our everyday life is, but our hearts are close to the sea in Brittany. We escape there as much as we can or need…

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2. What are some simple pleasures that you’ve rediscovered during the coronavirus pandemic?

C & G: Listening to the silence, seeing the invisible.

We get involved, despite us at first, in a slower way of life. Thinking of inspirations or aspirations is our new daily routine. The notion of time takes another dimension during this difficult period, it invites us to contemplation and to focus on essential. We will try to keep it as the new normal for the future…

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3. How have you and your creative process changed?

C & G: Our work is usually highly influenced by our journeys, meetings, and impulsion which are not possible right now. It was necessary to find another form of inspiration more personal and introspective. We become more aware of the necessity to create authentic artwork that brings a peaceful and calm atmosphere.

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4. What are some of the things that have changed in your country as a result of the pandemic? What is the new normal?

C & G: Hard times reveal people, a population …

Respect, share, mutual aid… such important values become more instinctive during the quarantine.

Supporting medical staff, greengrocer, workers, or people who are more exposed to the virus is nowadays an evidence.

Reflect

Travel from home

5. What was your favourite destination and why?

C & G: It is by far the most difficult question we had to answer. We experienced some continents and trip’s typologies and Iceland is a great pick.

Last winter, we were in search of an invigorating and meaningful destination to discover the deep sense of nature but also rediscover ourselves. We planned a kind of road trip in the south of Iceland, driving through geyser spot, glaciers, black diamond beach … sleeping in a little dark wood cabin in the middle of nowhere.

For the future, we have the north of the island to explore! Iceland gives us fullness and humility that we can only feel facing a natural phenomenon.

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6. What are some of your most memorable moments during the trip?

C & G: Every moment of this trip was memorable. We remembered the joy and appeasement we had after a long hike in Reykjadalur. The temperature was low, but we walked under a large shinning sun, winding the steaming hills sometimes in the snow, sometimes in rock’s little path. We were literally shrouded by nature, its landscapes, and specific noises. After hours of hike, we go through a thick fog which revealed natural hot springs. Thoughtlessly we jumped into the warm water. A total let go

7. What does travel give you that everyday life doesn’t?

C & G: It is more important that never to escape, imagine, and look for a change of scene. Travel for us is an easy way to challenge ourselves and step out of our comfort zone. This indefinable and positive feeling of getting lost is only possible when you travel.

8. You have an unlimited travel budget for 24 hours, where would you go?

C & G: Without any doubt Tokyo in Japan even if we are fully conscious that 24 hours will be not enough! We are attracted by the energy of this city full of paradoxes and subtlety. We want to explore the Japanese relation between material, form, and usage. We are waiting for the meeting with this culture for a long time now … A journey between Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto was planned last April, due to the pandemic everything had been canceled, but we prefer to say postponed…