Émilie Grière

Lamp maker

©ElisaBaehl

©Emilie Griere

©Betul Balkan

Silicone for the ceiling

Émilie makes sculptural lamps out of silicone
She has innovated with her use of synthetic materials
Her works are characterised by softness and lightness

Émilie Grière graduated in Ceramic Art and Design at ENSAAMA and in sculpture applied to synthetic materials. Today she makes lamps out of silicone. But these are not traditional lamps, they are ethereal objects in which illumination is at the service of beauty. Émilie's research focuses mainly on objects that will fit naturally into the environment and on highlighting the material used. Having broken with tradition entirely, Émilie is considered a pioneer in her use of materials. Her lamps and lighting installations are billowy, delicate and strong at the same time: they do not break but bend to the touch. Émilie's sculptural lamps have a deep and touching visual impact.

Interview

©DeMontesson

©ElisaBaehl

What is the sense of light in your objects?: Even though it comes last in the making of the object, light is important because it gives prominence to shades, folds and details. Depending on whether the light is turned off or on, the object appears differently.
What do people not understand about your craft?: People do not expect my pieces to be made out of silicone. I invite them to touch the object, perceiving its lightness and therefore its elegance. It is a very peculiar material that is soft despite being strong and resistant.
What is the role of material in your craft?: The material has a key role. My soft mineral materials are a composite of natural silica and oxygen. My main aim is to extrude the intrinsic qualities of composite materials in a way that highlights their textural depth and diversity.
What are your sources of inspiration?: The movement, the idea of creating something that seems to live in the environment in which it is set. It is there to be touched and appreciated in its fluctuating and hovering in the air, calling to mind both the softness and the strength of a bird’s flight.

Émilie Grière is a master artisan: she began her career in 2006 and she started teaching in 2015