Maryse Dugois

Paper sculptor

©Maryse Dugois-ADAGP

The poetry of silk paper

Maryse creates poetic works made out of silk paper for prestigious fashion houses
Her sculptures play with light
Each project is a source of discovery and innovation

Maryse Dugois knew from an early age that she wanted to work in a creative field. She attended the prestigious Ecole Boulle in Paris, but it was not until she moved to Brittany, where she lives and works, that she began to create truly personal works. Maryse's customers usually give her carte blanche to create works. Inspired by childhood memories, her delicate works capture the light and emotion of nature in suspension, like the light that magnifies the whiteness of an apple blossom swaying in the spring breeze. While her graceful flowers are renowned, her creations are rooted in the rich evocation of nature. The technical aspect of her work fades into the background, giving way to the magic of her suspended decorations.

Interview

©Maryse Dugois-ADAGP

©Maryse Dugois-ADAGP

What is the most memorable moment in the last 20 years of your working life?: Every project is memorable for me because each one is different. But I really enjoyed working on the campaign for Guerlain's iconic perfume, La Petite Robe Noire, because of the challenge of using black silk paper.
Do you work alone on your projects?: Yes, most of the time, except for large-scale projects when I set up a team to work with me. My work is very meticulous and time-consuming, because everything is done by hand. For example, for a recent project, we were a team of seven people working full-time for seven months, but I had already been working on the concept for several months beforehand.
What is the most important aspect of your work?: To convey an image of lightness and purity through my creations. Creating emotion is the only thing that matters to me.
What are your next projects?: I used to teach art in schools, and I loved the connection with the students. I would really like to rediscover this bond by organising workshops in art schools to help people discover and continue to explore the richness of tissue paper.

Maryse Dugois is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2002