Laurence Le Constant

Featherworker

©Laurence Le Constant

Life, death and feathers

Laurence is a multifaceted craftswoman and artist
Her roots and her family inspire her work
Each of her pieces holds deep significance

Laurence Le Constant first learned featherworking while she was working in the haute couture ateliers of Chanel, Dior and Givenchy, among other Maisons. During her lunchbreaks, a colleague would share the skills of the craft with her. It was only years later, when she felt the need to start creating again, that she went back to it – inspired to resume the craft when birds came into her studio and landed on the piece she was working on. Feathers have been part of her creations ever since. Born on Reunion island, Laurence attempts to build links with her family’s history, grievances and country through her work. Although her art might strike some as grim, skulls are symbolic of cultures where death is part of life, and where life is celebrated nonetheless. “If everyone brings their difference, their treasure, we can all achieve extraordinary things,” she says.

Interview

©Laurence Le Constant

©Laurence Le Constant

When did you start creating your skulls?: In 2010, I made my first skull following the death of my grandmother. To transcend her passing, the skull seemed the most powerful symbol: both fascinating and repulsive. In ancient Egypt feathers were used to weigh the soul of the deceased and as a means of communication between the spiritual and physical worlds.
How do you choose a name for each creation?: The skulls are part of a series, My Lovely Bones. They are portraits of women who have meant a lot to me, and I choose the colours and feathers to show their character. It is the name that precedes the work, not the other way around.
How long does a piece take to finish?: It depends on the feathers; some are easier to work with, they have a naturally nice fall, while others are rough and need to be prepared. I especially enjoy working with duck feathers, and for the colours I use dyes. For a skull, on average I take three weeks.
What does your art seek to convey?: My skulls raise a lot of questions. I create bridges between our world and the afterlife in an attempt to reestablish communication with spirituality and facilitate passages from one world to another and to transcend death. I like seeing the reactions of people who discover them, who project their own personal experiences and meaning onto the work.

Laurence Le Constant is an expert artisan she began her career in 2000