Built in their workshop in Gironde, their decorations captivate the Paris Opera

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Sophie and Frédéric are a pair to the city as well as to the stage and sign the fruit of their joint work under a name that says everything about their activity: Paper to be. “In the plural, like human beings”, wish to clarify the two artists. These inhabitants of Cadillac, in Gironde, create exceptional luminous objects made of papier-mâché.

Their artistic adventure was born in 2007 during their meeting. It takes place within the framework of a exhibition on paper: logic. What followed was a dazzling success.

Their workshop lives to the rhythm of radio and folk music

In their workshop, on the ground floor of their housein a small street in a quiet town center in South Gironde, the voices of France Inter most often resonate. When the general station does not broadcast within these walls, it is because the two creators need to get out of the daily rhythm.

Of the musiquelistened to on CD, then takes over. The speakers pump out “rather folk” sounds. “ AppleThomas Fersen, Nick CaveMarianne Faithfull: they accompany us very regularly,” admits the couple. Then sometimes, when Sophie is absent, Frédéric lets it roar you rock.

The beginnings of the pair of creators

However, it is not in a folk guitar bar or in a record store that the creations of the duo Papier à êtres have been exhibited since 2009. But in the Parisian temple of theatrical art set to music: the Palais Garnier . A exceptional showcasefor creations that are just as much.

It was in 2007, only some time after their meeting at an exhibition, that the genius of Sophie and Frédéric crossed paths and came together in a workshop. They then create their first Mademoiselle.

La Mademoiselle, first notable creation

This character, whose bust is human and the lower body is a light bubblebecomes their trademark and their piece most requested. They have been making a whole range of it since then, but always unique pieces .

“It all started from a pleated bubble that remained in Frédéric’s workshop. I then wanted personalize it and that's how our first one was born Mademoiselle », explains Sophie Mouton-Perrat.

This first work clearly reflects the complementarity of the couple at work.

I am more the technical side of the pair and Sophie brings the very personalized touch that sets us apart from other creators.

The winners of the young creators of art workshops in France competition in 2007 have also been exhibiting at the show since 2008 Home & Objects in Paris. “All the shops go there, it’s a real shopping area. visibilityfor us,” confides the couple.

The first time they exhibit at this summit of decoration, they make a amazing choice .

The stands are quite often overcrowded. We took the challenge of exhibiting only one creation: a 1.30 meter Mademoiselle.

Exhibition and sale at the Palais Garnier in Paris

This is a turning point for them and then they are spotted by the Palais Garnier and other resellers. As part of their work with the Paris Opera, each year they invent dancers in the spirit of Mademoiselle around one of the operas scheduled for the year. Their pieces of art are then exhibited and put on sale in the establishment's boutique.

The first year, we worked around Gisèle's first corps de ballet. Since then, we have provided them with 500 unique pieces.

A global success

Today they have a thirty points of salein the world, including three in Australiaone to Chicago another to Romeand even onePortugal .

“As a result, we don’t know who owns our creations. Sometimes we see them passing by. For example, once in a magazine there was a photo of Elsa Zylberstein and at her house, there was a Mademoiselle », laugh the creators.

Since then, their first unique piece, 17 years of creations followed and gave life to shapes and characters always in the theme of nature : animals, branches, a cabin on stilts… Their work continues to be exported and has found its way to individuals in Japan or the United States, in a restaurant in Madrid, in jewelers' windows for Christmas, at Dior houseand in all kinds of other prestigious places.

Provide decorators

Their latest creation is a variation of pieces in shape of brancheswhich directly integrates light. Creations used in particular by the luxury Yndõ hotel in Bordeaux. An illustration of their new clients: decorators. A shift that they hope will be beneficial for boost their salesa little less important recently.

Which does not prevent Sophie and Frédéric from continuing tocreate with passiontuned like music paper, to the rhythm of Alexis HK or Cat Stevens.

Papier à êtres creations can be found on their website or in the LSR boutique, rue Saint-Rémi in Bordeaux.

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