The sea in his hands
- Julien received his degree in interior design from Lyon’s CREAD Institute
- He creates unique tables using wood and resin
- His work both reflects and invites reflection
A smooth, weather-worn seaside stone; layers of blue in a tranquil lagoon: Julien Lagueste’s nature-inspired creations combine wood and resin to bring the deep blue hues and serenity of the sea into a living space. Julien designs and produces his tables almost completely by hand. “I imagine each one as a blend of function and sculpture. Each piece is completely unique, like a painting,” he says. His special process of superimposing five layers of resin to create a tabletop means that no two tables will ever be the same. “Each layer dries separately and is influenced by temperature and other external conditions. This means there is an element of chance in the process, that works alongside the mastery of the craftsmanship.”
INTERVIEW
My intention is for my work to be a mixture of art and design, sculpture and furniture. I want to make a shape that is special. A person needs a table but what I create is a two-in-one that is intended to be both functional and artistic.
I grew up on some of France’s islands. My collection Souvenirs des îles (Island Memories) is a nod toward my childhood and my days spent beside the sea. My work is also very much in line with my own personality, which is quiet and calm.
The pieces are designed so that when the wood is cut, there is as little waste as possible. They are cut one within the other. This also means each piece is light, easy to transport. As furniture, they look imposing and heavy, but they’re not at all.
Drawing the shapes correctly takes time, and I can be a perfectionist, looking for the perfect balance of the curves. I think of the resin and the colour more like an abstract painting; sometimes it takes much retouching, sometimes it works the first time.
