Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut French, b. 1975

Metamorphosing forests into "meubles paysage” (landscape furnitures) through drawings, sculptures and designs, Jean Guillaume-Mathiaut is a multi-faceted artist drawn from nature. It is no coincidence he settled in the village of Bourron-Marlotte, in the midst of Fontainebleau’s forest; he was born there. "My mother gave birth on the edge of this forest." Hence his deep bond with nature, forged from childhood onwards, which has greatly influenced his creative path. Driven by an inexhaustible creative energy, Mathiaut won prestigious architectural competitions from the age of 23, including the Van Alen Institute, with his project of a stilt cabin totally integrated into the environment of Long Island. Gifted at drawing, he first assisted two contemporary artists, then broadened his experience working alongside renowned architects including Édouard François and Jean Nouvel between 1995 and 2000. His encounter with Patrick Blanc, botanist and inventor of green walls, left a lasting impact. His commitment to nature would become definitive. "It was an encounter that was decisive. He taught me to insert plants into architecture and, above all, to be free." On several occasions, he traveled to Dogon country in Africa to learn vernacular housing techniques. He then became assistant to Jean-Luc Choplin, an eminent figure in the theatrical world and then Artistic Director of Galeries Lafayette. He held this position for a year before succeeding Choplin who left for the Théâtre du Châtelet. In 2005, Mathiaut embarked on a new path as a designer and interior architect for top Japanese designers such as Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rey Kawakubo. This opportunity enabled him to bring his own world to life, embodying a fusion between sculpture and the very essence of the forest. He designs his works from fallen, worn or fossilized tree trunks: his pieces are an allegory of the forest and an ode to biodiversity. "I have a shamanic relationship with this environment, which repaired me after an accident and gave me the strength to get back on my feet. These trees give you back a hundredfold what you give them. Seeing them awaken every morning is a bath of youth that nourishes my artistic practice." Inspired by African practices, Japanese assembly techniques and travel memories, his "furniture tribes" pay homage to the great architectural currents - Bauhaus and Brutalism - and to Brancusi, a personality whose humility, formal freedom and timelessness he admires. His work transcends the boundaries between architecture, design and art, offering viewers a fresh outlook at the beauty of our natural environment. Through his creations, he strives for accuracy and simplicity of form in order to be as close to nature as possible.