Editor’s thoughts

Through Coraux, Marie-José Gustave invites us to embark on a journey of introspection and empathy inspired by the captivating beauty of Guadeloupe’s shoreline – the artist’s ancestral homeland. Amidst this natural splendor, there exists a poignant narrative of displacement and resilience – a reflection of the hardships endured by migrant ancestors and the universal plight of those fleeing conflict, economic turmoil, and persecution.
Porcelain loops, carefully inserted amidst the weaving process, serve as poignant reminders of turbulent waters of history and memory, symbolizing the enduring impact of trauma and the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity.

Your work seems to highlight a strong fascination for fibers and, especially, for paper. When did this interest in paper begin?

Marie José-Gustave: I have always been fascinated by fabrics, their flexibility, texture, prints… For a while, I wanted to become a fashion designer, and I trained in Paris in clothing production. My practice as an artist began when I moved to Canada. Paper was like a substitute for fabric for financial reasons at first. It was less expensive than fabric.
Paper has been my medium of choice for 15 years. Cardboard, paper pulp, and mostly paper thread in the last few years. Paper is fascinating because it is flexible yet rigid. From my training in clothing production, I have kept a taste for volume, so I work with paper in three dimensions.

What inspires Marie-José Gustave?

Marie José-Gustave: Mostly artisan know-how. Making a repetitive gesture until I master it so that the material becomes an extension of my fingers. I like artisanal techniques: pottery, basketry, textile techniques. Observing the artisans’ gestures feeds and inspires my practice both creatively and technically.
From a conceptual standpoint, what materializes in my creations is a personal work of introspection. My migratory family history for instance: Hailing from the French Antilles, where diverse cultures blend – from Caribbean Indians and Africans to Europeans – and having been born in Paris, I am inherently shaped by the interplay of interbreeding and migration.

This intermingling of cultures serves as the driving force behind my creative process, fueling reflections that manifest in works such as the evocative installation, Coraux. I aim to explore the complexities of identity and belonging, weaving together threads of heritage and experience to evoke a sense of shared humanity.

Coraux is the name of a beautiful installation made of paper and porcelain. How did this series start?

Marie José-Gustave: Coraux is a basketwork installation made of porcelain and paper thread. It has been created as part of my Research and Creation project entitled D’un territoire à l’autre (From one territory to another) which is still underway. In this project, I am working on pieces that evoke the essence of sea voyages. During a stay in Guadeloupe, my native land, I was taken by the aesthetics of the shells and the various white corals washed away on the shore, as well as by the violent wash on the reef. Reflections arose from thinking about the trauma my migrant ancestors experienced when they arrived on these beaches and, more broadly, about the violence that migrants face when they escape war, economic crisis, and persecution under deplorable conditions.

In Coraux, I sought to encapsulate this divide. Porcelain loops, carefully woven into the braid, serve as poignant symbols of disruption, altering the braid’s circular harmony and echoing the stresses endured by migrants. Through this installation, I aim to evoke empathy and introspection, bridging the gap between past and present, beauty and trauma.

Coraux reveals organic-like structures similar to corals.
Were these biological structures the main inspiration behind this installation?

Marie José-Gustave: This is how I perceive the marine world through my artistry. I have a penchant for replicating shapes; my pieces often consist of accumulations of seemingly identical forms. Through the repetitive movements of my fingers, I can subtly alter their appearances. Many times, I bring my creations to life without sketching them beforehand, relying solely on a mental image of the desired shape, allowing my hands to execute the rest.
My creations reflect my dual cultural heritage, merging influences from Europe and the Caribbean. One aspect embodies structure, evident in the repetition of forms, while the other embodies flexibility, exhibiting an organic quality. This blend of identities is a consistent theme in my work.

What thoughts did this series inspire in you as an artist?

Marie José-Gustave: My artistic work is introspective. Working alone allows me to observe my inner world. I think about simple things in life that speak to each and every one. I analyze my questions and reactions in the face of others and the world. It is quite mundane.
I try to beautify my inner world, and by extension, the inner worlds of others, and to find peace through gesture as an artist and artisan.

Interview with Marie José-Gustave by Rita Trindade | Photography Michael Patten