Sophie Mouton-Perrat & Frédéric Guibrunet — Doing only what feels natural

Sophie and Frédéric make together sculpted paper poems inviting us into their dream world. I am deeply inspired by the story of Sophie and Frédéric. Apart from creating magical works together, they live together and have a son. Their meeting is a great reminder of how miraculous things do happen when you follow your path.

THE STORY

Since a child Sophie was doing little sculptures in ceramics and modeling paste.

Sophie - ‘I began with pieces in colors around 14 years old. It was just a natural way to start the business because I exhibited in the place where I worked. At 18 years old I worked in Paris in a chocolate and tea place, and they proposed that I exhibit my work. I had some orders and I began to sell at this place. It was natural. After I met Frédéric on a special exhibition about paper in 2007. I represented France and Frédéric represented Canada. Frédéric made sculptures in paper but for the lighting. We met during the opening and after we went to the restaurant because everybody goes away home and we were alone together.’

Frédéric - ‘When Sophie came for my workshop in Montreal 12 years ago she found a bulb and I said ‘do what you want with it’ and so, she produced first ‘Mademoiselle’. Since this moment it is our bestseller. We sold more than 1500 pieces. The sculptures are displayed at placed like operas, galleries, libraries, etc.’

A BIRTH OF THE MASTERPIECE

This is my favorite moment from our dialogue.

NATURAL

— Was everything easy for you?

—We don’t think about it as easy or not easy. It is natural to do this or not natural? We have to feel that we want to make the pieces.

CHOICE

— Do you do things you don’t like?

—No, we don’t. We try not to, as much as we can. We work together, we live together, we have a son and if we have a problem during the work maybe it can be in our private life, and we don’t want this.

NEWNESS

— What are your favorite pieces?

—Always the new ones.

SUPERPOWER

Frédéric’s mastery is the light, Sophie’s mastery is making hybrid people and animals. They met, and now they make joint soulful creations — hybrid animals and people with light, that feel like their dream world.

COMMUNICATION

— How do you communicate the project so there are no alterations on the way to the final customer?

—We try to communicate our spirit on Instagram and the website. We try...but after everyone can decide for themselves what they want to see in our work and what they are touched by.

Images copyrights @ Papier à êtres® and Fabrice Besse