It was on the occasion of the release of our AH24 ARTY pre-collection, inspired by art in all its forms, that we went to meet Véronique de Soultrait, an artist who has been nurturing a love for rope in all its forms for several years.
It is in the heart of her workshop, in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon, that she welcomed us. A multifaceted artist, she is today surrounded by a team of 6 collaborators, with whom she creates tailor-made projects in collaboration with exceptional decorators and designers.
[VDS].: I have always been passionate about lace and antique crochet. At the very beginning, I started by creating a collection of cushions that I covered with linen or macramé that I made, mixed with different materials, from the simplest to the most rustic. I then had at heart to create my own pattern, my own universe and above all, after an apprenticeship in fine arts, to move towards wall decorations.
I worked as a trompe l'oeil and patina painter for 25 years. But I finally turned to creating paintings using ropes, rather than paint.
Where do you draw your inspiration from to create all these creations?
[VDS]: My work is strongly inspired by the 1930s. Cubism occupies a central place in my creation. It was greatly inspired by tribal art and ethnic motifs, by Africa, Asia, which creates a unique fusion between these different cultures. At 60 years old, my career is a reflection of multiple influences accumulated over the years. These inspirations come from everything I have loved and explored throughout my life. My time at the Faculty of Art History also marked my artistic vision. There I developed a real passion for painters from all eras and backgrounds, which is reflected today in the diversity and richness of my work.
What materials do you work with?
[VDS]: We prefer to work with natural materials, hemp, cotton, but we are forced to expand the range because we have a lot of requests for gold threads. We work with the Carlhian establishments, which are the last in Lyon to make gold thread.
We also often integrate metal, a lot of burlap. We can work in a very natural spirit, with raffia, paper rope, very typical of the Scandinavian 50s, upholsterer's strap, bamboo, water hyacinth, waxed cotton, natural artisanal cotton. We try to work with local suppliers, mainly from Haute-Loire, or for some in Spain. But always in Europe.
What do you like about your job?
[VDS]: What I love about this job is the constant abundance of new ideas. You never get bored. The constraints imposed by clients, whether in terms of shapes or colors, are actually springboards that push us to push our limits, to conduct in-depth research, and to explore new worlds. This creative process becomes a clever mix between our own identity and these new inspirations. I often find elements that are dear to me, echoes of my past at the Beaux-Arts.
One of my great pleasures is to discover new suppliers, to unearth treasures, to hunt for unique pieces. Research is at the heart of our work and represents one of my main missions, which I always accomplish with great enthusiasm. It is this perpetual quest for novelty and authenticity that nourishes our creativity and makes each project an exciting adventure.
When you create, when you look for a new motif, do you prefer to be in the city or in the countryside?
[VDS]: I love being here, in my studio. It’s my second home, the place where I feel best to create. For me, creation requires mental space, a time of inner silence that I strive to find. Fortunately, thanks to my team that takes care of the manufacturing, I now have much more free time. These are precious moments when I need to be alone, to really dive into my creative process.
Do you manage to take time to nourish your creativity?
[VDS]: In the evening, when I manage to stay a little later and find myself alone, that's when I really become myself again. I forget about everyday life and the notion of time, allowing me to experiment without interruption. It's a precious moment to dream, make sketches and nourish my reflection.
My studio is cluttered, but it’s essential to my visual stimulation. I find elements of past projects there, ready to be re-explored and transformed. It’s a continuous cycle: coming back to ideas and reinterpreting them differently. I would say that only 30% of my attempts result in something marketable. You have to be willing to take that time and recognize that not everything will always be an immediate success. Sometimes what seems unsuccessful at one point can be reused in an innovative way later.
Would you like to tell us more about some of your creations?
[VDS].: The XXL mandala: a work I created, strongly inspired by Sonia Delaunay, for a client in New York. I was given carte blanche for the colors, and I explored variations inspired by nature, with this very solar touch at the center. My work is also imbued with yoga, energies and the more spiritual aspects of life. These underlying elements bring a unique depth to my creations. There is also a cosmic influence, with subtle references to the planets and the universe.
To discover the work of Véronique de Soultrait, go to: veronique-de-soultrait.com
