Kostia

What led you, in the middle of your life, to become a cabinetmaker? 

As a young man, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by very beautiful furniture. I went to all the exhibitions I could attend, sometimes going abroad to see one in particular.  In college, I took art history classes, but I never worked.  There was a time when this need to work on matter became stronger than the satisfaction of contemplation.

I chose to train in cabinet making because there is wood, sculpture and bronze in the furniture.  I really like this constraint of creation, a piece of furniture perhaps as incredible as we want it to be, it remains a piece of furniture.  This does not prevent me from working with my technique on purely artistic pieces.

What materials attract you most ? 

I obviously like wood, but I have a very strong affinity with bronze.  Bronze is a fascinating material, when you polish bronze, and the material heats up in your hands, something special happens. But I work on all the materials, it depends on the creation I want to create.  I am soon going to Murano to include glass in one of my works.

What is your creative process ? 

I often start with a series of small sketches without ever thinking about the realization.  I am lucky, technology never corrupts my creative vision, realization is not a constraint.  Then I make a model to check the proportions, then the technical drawing so that the workshop can make it.  I am lucky to have a team that goes head down in projects, where others would question the result.

What is your signature ? 

Furniture or pieces that tell a story.  My works are mostly the result of reflection and express a symbolism. Nothing is left to chance, it’s never just a piece of furniture.  I make parts that once installed are very present.  It’s not just decorative art, there’s a lot in it.

Thank you for hosting the Collection Latil dinner. What do you think of the idea of bringing together artists and craftspeople from the collection?

I think it’s very relevant, because whether we like it or not, we live in our time, and each time has its own style.  Our sources of inspiration are similar, our pieces, although marked by each of us, will correspond in the future to a period.

I see this kind of encounter as a beehive at the beginning of the 20th century in Montmartre, with several artists living together side by side.  They marked a period of painting, each with their own vision.

On my side, I have the chance to have my own workshop to make my creations.  Dinners like this one allow artists to find the people who can make their works and bring them a technical background.

What are your future projects ?

We are currently working on 2Nous sommes en train de travailler sur 2 Mica buffet, a table for a living room inspired by bald cypresses of Virginia, and we are preparing a lighting installation for January for the Scène Ouverte gallery.