Cécile Fouillade

Siqou

Porcelain maker

The illusion of porcelain softness

Cécile makes porcelain sculptures that convey textures and shapes of animals from the Arctic
She hopes to raise awareness of overlooked animals and organisms, and their vital role in our ecosystem
She joins polar expeditions on water and land, where she gains a lot of inspiration

Cécile Fouillade, known in the art world as Siqou, is an artist deeply inspired by the vast and enigmatic landscapes of the northern polar regions. Her porcelain work is delicate yet powerful, and through it she seeks to capture the intricate textures and stark beauty of regions like Greenland, Norway and Iceland. Often working from the decks of ships during her artistic residencies, Cécile translates the ruggedness and serenity of these remote terrains into her craft. She has scoured lands far and wide, and recently turned to explore what lies beneath the water’s surface. "My aim is to highlight the various ecosystems and creatures of these lesser-known worlds, their forms, textures, colours and translucent quality, through my work," says Cécile.

Interview

What fuels your creativity?: Marine expeditions such as my recent artist’s residency aboard ship with the Tara Fondation Océan. The plankton that I was able to observe on these expeditions was a great source of inspiration. For me, it is really important to bring to light the beauty of these secret worlds, threatened by extinction.
Could you describe one of your favourite pieces?: My favourite piece is a fur vase called Vase Ukaluu – In Spring. It is a white vase that I covered with white porcelain fur, all made entirely by hand. It took me two months. It was very delicate, and for me, the piece represents the most successful texture in my work.
Is there something about your work that people do not know?: My work takes a very long time, it is repetitive and delicate, which has brought me a great deal of pride but also some injuries, notably tendinitis in my wrists and shoulders. Today, I try to use less physically demanding and faster techniques.
Has there been an expedition that shaped your creative process?: During my first stay in Greenland, I created several porcelain sculptures of things I found there, like animal skin, whale bones, narwhal rostrums, etc. At Greenlandic airport, security checks luggage for animal bones, as bringing any back is prohibited. When they saw my sculptures, I was arrested! I had to unpack my sculptures in front of the police and explain, using my few words in Kalaallisut, that they were not real bones. It was both a stressful and amusing moment.

Cécile Fouillade is a rising star: she began her career in 2019