How would you define your craft?
My intention is for my work to be a mixture of art and design, sculpture and furniture. I want to make a shape that is special. A person needs a table but what I create is a two-in-one that is intended to be both functional and artistic.
Where do you find inspiration?
I grew up on some of France’s islands. My collection Souvenirs des îles (Island Memories) is a nod toward my childhood and my days spent beside the sea. My work is also very much in line with my own personality, which is quiet and calm.
© Julien Lagueste
How do you approach your work?
The pieces are designed so that when the wood is cut, there is as little waste as possible. They are cut one within the other. This also means each piece is light, easy to transport. As furniture, they look imposing and heavy, but they’re not at all.
When do you know a piece is finished?
Drawing the shapes correctly takes time, and I can be a perfectionist, looking for the perfect balance of the curves. I think of the resin and the colour more like an abstract painting; sometimes it takes much retouching, sometimes it works the first time.