A universe between playful and macabre
- Bertrand opened his workshop in 2014
- For him, ceramics can create the perfect alchemy between dream and matter
- Serendipity is crucial in his work
After studying at the School of Fine Arts in Nantes, Bertrand Secret initially pursued floral art. It was only later that he discovered ceramics, a medium that would become central to his artistic work. In 2013, he purchased his first clay and kiln, starting his artistic journey in his own living room. His approach to ceramics is self-taught, guided by instinct and experimentation. Betrand describes his work as a personal quest, an odyssey marked by images and ideas that he materialises as steps towards an unknown destination. In his practice, he maintains a balance between technical mastery and letting go, always seeking to be surprised when he opens his kiln. He draws inspiration from Japanese culture, science fiction literature and environmental humanities, which help him contemplate our rapidly changing world.
Interview
- When did you first consider making ceramics?
- I remember having a dream, under a tent one summer in Corsica with my partner, where I talked to her about this desire to have my hands in the earth.
- How is your work connected to your local environment?
- The best way to answer this question is to evoke the genius loci, the spirit of the place. I have moved a lot in recent years, and each time, I try to immerse myself in the surroundings, capturing qualities of light and atmosphere that resonate in my work through the selection of clay, colours and patterns.
- What is one aspect of your work that people are not usually aware of?
- The foundation of my creative universe remains my sketchbooks. They are filled with drawings, creatures, and scribbled artifacts, and only a small fraction of what teems within those sketchbooks manages to manifest in clay or in my design work.
- How do you determine when one of your creations is well made?
- To me, an important aspect is that a work retains a sense of irreducible mystery, like a fragment of the universe. A successful work should be something you can look at every day and receive a different message from each time.
Bertrand Secret is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2013
Where
Bertrand Secret
