Par
Edwin Bleunven
Published on
Jan 19, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Alexandre Chartier is transportation engineer. However, it is he, under the name of Dilj, who exposes his ceramics between the walls of the Designers' Showroom, a boutique located in Cadillac, in Gironde.
“It all started during a school trip of my son, during which I was an accompanist. We went to a pottery class. When I saw that, it was thunderbolt right away,” says the forty-year-old.
Buying a professional pottery wheel
After this first unusual encounter with ceramics, Alexandre Chartier participated in two discovery courses and buy one potter's wheel professional. That's it, he releases his creative side and locks himself in his workshop.
He tries and tries again. It forms, breaks, reforms. Then it cooks, breaks again and starts again. This impatient person by nature lets chaos operate to create better and learns to take the time.
Music to create
At first, you don't need a noise around him to concentrate. Then little by little, the musique enters the creative room and takes his mind on a journey.
I can listen to Chopin, South American music. Compay Segundo, for example, brings me this rhythmic music that takes me away and makes me forget time when I create.
Alongside this activity which takes up more and more of his time, Alexandre Chartier keeps his job as an engineer: “I have no desire to leave my job. I find a balance between the two. If I were to pursue pottery full time, there would be some form of pressure for productivity and that might disgust me. »
Autonomy and creative carefreeness
And that's everything this resident of Saint-Caprais-de-Bordeaux doesn't want. He wishes to maintain a autonomy and a carelessness in his creative art. This way he can express himself fully.
“Right after discovering pottery, I took a skills assessment. The professional who followed me noted that in the professions that I liked, I had chosen potter. But it was a bit of a joke. She said to me 'and why not?'”, he explains with a slight smile.
The joke ultimately becomes an avenue explored by Alexandre Chartier and even a life project.
-I broke my Livret A and bought a ceramic kiln.
20 hours per week to create
Since then, the artisan engineer has found his balance between more intellectual employment and more manual craftsmanship. He spends most of his week-ends and his evenings after work for an average total of “ 20 hours per week».
A time spent experimenting with the earth, its oven and its colorings : “I wanted to color my creations myself. It's not like paint, it's a kind of chemistry. When we go to buy all that, we can pass for a dealer,” laughs Alexandre Chartier. Indeed, like turning and baking, he learned coloring and meshing in self-taught.
I take advantage of my vacation to do internships and learn with others. However, I have no diploma.
The creators' showroom, a boutique designed by creators
Opened four years ago, the Showrrom is located opposite the Cadillac halls, in Gironde. 22 creators exhibit and sell their productions. Jewelers, crochet, a wood turner, flowers made from tights or lamps from an ironworker: there is something for all tastes and budgets. “In small villages, there are nuggets of creations and we can give them a showcase,” says Muriel, one of the store managers.
Soon more artistic creations
Since October 2024, he is the only ceramist to exhibit at the Cadillac Creators Showroom. He offers dishes(mug, plate, ramen bowl, teapot) vasesor even candle holders. He also sells through an Etsy account on the internet.
However, he does not intend to stop there: “In 2025, I will try to let go a little more and propose thingsartistic. I will also confront other professionals at pottery markets. »
Dilj Céramique is only at the beginning of its history and has not finished experimenting to create.
The Designers’ Showroom: 12, place de la République, 33410, Cadillac. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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