Amandine Camp

The science of paper

• Amandine is a former art bookbinder
• She specialises in the restoration of graphic art and books
• She is dedicated to passing on her knowledge

Amandine Camp is a paper artist: through the mastery of several crafts, she has made the material her true field of expertise. Now, a restorer of old and contemporary books, she first fell in love with paper while studying at the Beaux Arts and soon became an art bookbinder. Ever eager to broaden her horizons, Amandine deepened her knowledge of the material by working in a mill to learn about the paper-making process. Restoration came to her as a perfect way to combine creativity with her keen interest in heritage: being an artisan of these professions brings her a unique perspective to her work as a conservator. After some precious experience abroad, Amandine now works with her own clients: collectors, bibliophiles and libraries among others.

Interview

©A.M. Springer

©A.M. Springer

Is there anything people don't know about your work?

Almost everything. Book restoration is a little-known profession, it emerged in the 1970s. People don't imagine that we have scientific knowledge, like doctors and engineers, we have to make real diagnoses. People often imagine that we are pure craftsmen.

Did you learn from a master?

Yes, I was lucky enough to learn from several different masters. At the workshop where I worked in Paris, Jacky Vignon trained me in the art of bookbinding. I was impressed by this man of great elegance and humility. He was very pedagogical in his way of teaching: he did not keep any of his secrets.

Did he pass on to you this taste for teaching?

Absolutely, I take a lot of pleasure in sharing knowledge. I give courses on papermaking (at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Avignon) and each year I welcome a student to my workshop. I then help them to find internships, it is important to follow them beyond the diploma, to be a reference point for them.

What is the most memorable moment of your work?

My daily life at the Moulin du Verger, making paper. The mill had not moved since the 16th century. Every day I was repeating practices that have not changed since the 12th century. Being on a historic heritage site and working with the same methods that have been used for 400 years was special.

Amandine Camp is a master artisan: she began her career in 2009 and she started teaching in 2018

Where

Experiences

Tour a book restoration workshop in Avignon

2 Hours

Free