Julie Auzillon

Bookbinder

©leturk

©vincentnageotte

Decking the book by its cover

Julie is inspired by the rigour and refinement of Japanese art
She received the Youth Fine Craft Prize in 2015
Her bindings echo the feelings sparked by the book

Julie Auzillon has been binding books since 2003. “At first, I wanted to do illustration, something visual. I soon realised that bookbinding was a type of contemporary creation in which the technical aspect of building a book is paired with creativity. This suits my profile well and I liked it right away." After she graduated from the renowned École Estienne, Julie set up a small workshop at her home and worked on her first commissions, for artists or luxury brands. Technical constraints and the content of a book are the two great sources of creativity for Julie. They often lead her to finding and developing new binding techniques. In 2013, she opened her workshop where many institutions, bookstores, and bibliophiles now reach out to her to beautify their most precious books.

Interview

©vincentnageotte

©vincentnageotte

Why did you choose to become a bookbinder?: I discovered artistic bookbinding by chance and immediately felt that it was for me, since it combined technique and creativity. I also like being dependent on content: the starting point is the book to be bound and the constraints imposed by it are fascinating sources of ideas for me.
Do you master any specific techniques?: I created a titanium rod binding technique. It makes the hinge strong and pliable, eliminating the risk of breakage of this highly manipulated area. I also ensure the rods add to the aesthetic of the binding by colouring them.
What inspires you?: I feel particularly close to Japanese culture, without knowing if it inspires me or if I simply find an echo in it. The aesthetic of purity, the interest in structure as a decorative element, the love of paper, the contemplation of discreet detail...
What is a memorable moment in your professional life?: I was asked to make a box for an original edition of 'Calligrammes' by Guillaume Apollinaire. The book had accompanied him to the trenches in 1916 and he had written a few verses on a little piece of paper that was still inside. For this box, I created a sheet of Japanese kozo paper, echoing what had overwhelmed me: the poetry of a simple sheet of paper.

Julie Auzillon is a master artisan: she began her career in 2004 and she started teaching in 2010