I am very proud to have been interviewed by Catherine PAOLI, Creator of EXPÉRIENCE COLLECTIVE – This interview was also summarized in a post on the ARTISAN D’AVENIR account @artisansdavenir, the network that activates the projects of art artisans!

1/ Who are you? name/age/place of residence
MY NAME IS MARION, I AM 38 YEARS OLD, AND I AM A MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN. I LIVE IN SEINE ET MARNE, WHERE MY ARTISTIC CREATION WORKSHOP IS ALSO LOCATED AND I GO TO PARIS EVERY DAY TO PRACTICE MY JOB: MANAGING MAISON ALIVON.

2/ If you had to explain your job in a few words?
I MANAGE THE LAST BRONZE CHARACTER MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD. FAMILY HOUSE SINCE 1812, I AM THE 4TH GENERATION, AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO MANAGE IT. IN THIS FOUNDRY, WE MANUFACTURE THE GILDER’S TOOLS FOR MARKING LEATHER, PAPER AND WOOD. WORKING WITH BRONZE BRINGS TOGETHER WORKSHOP MEMORIES THAT I LIKE TO BRING (RE)TO LIFE THROUGH ART AND SENSE OBJECTS. I LIKE TO CREATE EMOTION IN PEOPLE.

3/ If you had to define yourself in 3 words?
CREATIVE – SENSITIVE – CURIOUS

4/ Why did you choose this technique?
BEYOND THE TECHNIQUE, IT’S THE MATERIAL THAT CHOSE ME! BRONZE IS THE MATERIAL OF MY WORK AND I ENJOY COMBINING IT WITH OTHER MATERIALS IN ORDER TO PITCH CURIOSITY AND ABOVE ALL MARK EMOTION.

5/What was the path that led you to this point?
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IMMERSED IN CREATION. WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I LOVED HANGING OUT IN MY MOTHER’S BINDING-GILT WORKSHOP. I TINKERED, PAINTED, REPAIRED, SEWN, DECORATED, AND STAGED EVERYTHING I FOUND WITH JOY! I HAVE A PASSION FOR BEAUTIFUL THINGS. ART, MATERIALS, ARCHITECTURE, EVERYTHING THAT IS CLOSELY OR FAR RELATED TO MANUAL SKILLS FASCINATES ME. I CAREFULLY CHOSE MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES IN BEAUTIFUL FRENCH LUXURY HOUSES UNTIL I WAS SOUGHT, AFTER MY MOTHER’S DEATH, TO TAKE OVER MY FATHER-IN-LAW’S FAMILY BUSINESS: MAISON ALIVON. THE RAW ELEMENTS OF THE FOUNDRY ARE FOR ME INSPIRING WORKSHOP MEMORIES THAT NEVER CEREMONIALLY CREATE OBJECTS OF ART AND MEANING IN MY HANDS.

6/ What is the object that you like to make the most?
UNUSUAL OBJECTS AND OTHER CURIOSITIES FOR THE HOME.
UNHEARD-OF JEWELRY AND EXCEPTIONAL USUALS! THROUGH MY CREATIONS, I AM HEARTED TO HONOUR THE WORKSHOP MEMORIES OF THE MANUFACTURE AND ITS PEOPLE, WHO BY THEIR TALENT AND THE LOVE THEY HAVE FOR THEIR JOBS, HIGHLIGHT THE BEAUTY OF THE TOOLS THEY MAKE TO EFFECT THE NOBLE MATERIALS AS WELL AS THE MOST UNUSUAL.

7/ What inspires you in general?
THE ELEMENTS – THE MATERIAL – THE LIGHT – THE EXCEPTIONAL… BEAUTY IN ITS SIMPLIEST EXPRESSION! BEAUTIFULNESS HAS SHAPED ME.

8/ What are the styles or artistic or creative movements etc… that influence your work?
NOTHING INFLUENCES ME BUT EVERYTHING INSPIRES ME! MY “ROMANTIC” SIDE LOVES THE BLOOMING OF A PEONY IN THE GARDEN, THE RIPPLES OF THE SAND AFTER THE BLOW OF THE WIND, THE BRIEF APPEARANCE OF A RAINBOW… MY “ROUGH” SIDE WILL BE ATTRACTED BY THE MOLTEN MAGMA IN THE HEART OF A VOLCANO, A THREATENING SKY CHARGED WITH ELECTRICITY, A WAVE THAT BREAKS AGAINST THE ROCK DURING A STORM…

9/ What have been the decisive encounters in your life so far?
MY MOTHER, WHO TAUGHT ME TO QUESTION THE WORLD BY TAKING THE TIME TO OBSERVE IT WHILE GIVING ME A LOOK AT BEAUTIFUL THINGS. MY FATHER-IN-LAW, WHO PASSED ON TO ME THE KNOWLEDGE OF A KNOW-HOW THAT IS TODAY UNIQUE IN THE WORLD. AND FREDERIQUE TILLY, ARTISTIC BRONZIER! IT IS SHE WHO ALLOWED ME TO REALIZE MY ARTISTIC APPROACH BY SHOWING ME HOW TO BRAZE METAL.

10/ What are your values ​​or commitments?
GENEROSITY – KNOW-HOW – TRANSMISSION
AND VIRTUOUS CIRCLES IN WORK, IN THE WORKSHOP AS IN LIFE!
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MANTRAS IS: “DOING BEAUTIFUL, DOING GOOD, DOING IT WELL”

11/ What does the collective mean to you?
MUTUAL AID AND SHARING THE WORK… IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
AND WE PUT OUR HEARTS AND OUR HANDS INTO IT IN UNION!

12/ If you had one piece of advice to give to a craftsman?
CREATE A NETWORK BY JOINING ASSOCIATIONS!!!

13/ If you had to introduce a French craftsman, artist or designer, who would it be? BEATRICE SERRE – MARIE DROUET – ANSU STUDIO