Dorian Étienne is a multifaceted craftsman based in France. Following a degree in object design at the Boulle school, he turned to craftsmanship during a residency at the National Institute of Crafts in Taiwan. “I went to find what I was missing: creating with my hands and not “just” designing things theoretically. Experiencing techniques and materials gives me a real advantage, that of thinking about “achievable” designs, rather than utopian ones.” Settling in near or distant territories for the duration of a project, Dorian observes cultures and histories, techniques and materials and is inspired by the richness of the world's cultural heritages. His pieces express his respect for humans and the environment and reveal his mastery of the various techniques he masters such as burned wood (shou sugi ban), tufting, bamboo work, natural lacquer, suminagashi, plant dyes, and many others.
Dorian Étienne