Marie Gourault

Bronzesmith

©Arnaud Begay

Noble bronze and quirky figures

Marie loves nature and dreamlike shapes
Her sculptures and jewellery hint at a fantastical world
She enjoys working in a closed, meditative space

Inspired by nature, its forms and scents, Marie Gourault works with bronze to create sculptures that allow us to imagine the fantastical universe of her mind. Pine cones, leaves, flowers, insects take on new appearances in her hands, tipping into the unreal. Her final object is precious, bright and charming. Living at the foot of the Pyrenees, Marie often walks in the woods and draws inspiration from the natural world. Artist and mother, she is also influenced by children’s literature, rich in fantasy. The use of bronze may seem unusual, but to Marie, as it is one of the most ancient metals, it carries with it great heritage.

Interview

©Arnaud Begay

©Arnaud Begay

What is the role of bronze in your craft?: I only work with bronze, apart from the odd exception when I work with clay. Bronze is an ancient material. I adapt it to everyday use, sculptures and jewellery. It is a timeless material, eternally valid and beautiful.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: Certainly, the use of bronze is linked to tradition and the past, but combined with techniques developed in the 1990s, tradition and innovation go hand in hand without interfering with each other, but rather enhancing each other.
What does well made mean to you?: A piece is well done when, once it is finalised, I will not remember it. This means that the creation suited the person who commissioned it. Well done is when I immediately understand the preferences the client had.
Do you master any specific techniques?: I practise an innovative technique in the sense that I work bronze as though it were metallic clay. I use bronze powder. Cellulose binder and water are added. A first firing at 500°C burns the binder and a second one, at 900°C, sinters the metal. At the end of the process, only bronze remains.

Marie Gourault is an expert artisan she began her career in 2014