{"id":7903,"date":"2025-12-13T09:50:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T14:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/local-market.co\/interview-lea-coutureau-artistic-embroidery-in-arsague-nouvelle-aquitaine-jungle-exquise\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T10:35:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T15:35:43","slug":"interview-lea-coutureau-artistic-embroidery-in-arsague-nouvelle-aquitaine-jungle-exquise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/local-market.co\/en\/interview-lea-coutureau-artistic-embroidery-in-arsague-nouvelle-aquitaine-jungle-exquise\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview \u2014 L\u00e9a Coutureau, Artistic Embroidery in Arsague, Nouvelle-Aquitaine \u00b7 Jungle Exquise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

About You<\/h2>\n\n

Hello L\u00e9a, can you tell us about the birth of Jungle Exquise and what led you to artistic embroidery?<\/h3>\n\n
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Hello!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passionate about drawing<\/strong>, painting<\/strong>, thread, and fabric<\/strong> since childhood, I learned to knit<\/strong>, crochet, and embroider <\/strong>with my grandmother. I naturally pursued a high school diploma in Applied Arts<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When I was in my junior year, someone showed me a documentary on Haute Couture<\/strong>. I saw embroiderers at work. And that was a true revelation! <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>

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It never left me after that. As soon as I graduated, I began training in artistic embroidery. I later found out that my great-grandmother was also an embroiderer. I created Jungle Exquise in 2016<\/strong> to express my own universe, which blends 17th<\/sup>– and 18th<\/sup>-century inspirations<\/strong> with a passion for nature<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

What does the word “exquise” mean to you in your brand name? Is it a reference to a vision of beauty, detail, or something else? <\/h3>\n\n

The word \u201cexquisite<\/a>\u201d is sometimes defined as \u201cgiving a pleasant impression to the senses through its delicacy.\u201d That\u2019s exactly it \u2014 subtlety, attention to detail, and a love of beauty. It\u2019s truly a reference to the French arts of the 17th<\/sup> and 18th<\/sup> centuries, which perfectly embody these ideas. <\/p>\n\n

How did you discover artistic embroidery, and how did this craft take root in your life?<\/h3>\n\n

Oops! I may have gone into that a bit too much earlier, but I think I\u2019ve said it all! <\/p>\n\n

A textile universe between dreams and precision<\/h2>\n\n
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How would you describe your artistic style and the emotions you aim to convey through your creations?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d say my universe is dreamlike<\/strong>. I seek to share my vision of nature\u2014both pure and sophisticated\u2014a source of daily wonder for me! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You use techniques such as Lun\u00e9ville crochet, stumpwork, and cannetille\u2026 Could you explain these to someone unfamiliar with artistic embroidery?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What I love about artistic embroidery is the endless possibilities in terms of colors<\/strong>, materials<\/strong>, textures<\/strong>, and even volume<\/strong>. For me, embroidering is like writing\u2014but with a needle or hook instead of a pen! The gestures flow just like words on a page, telling a story that\u2019s meant to be seen and felt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do you find inspiration for your pieces? Does it start with a material, a color, an idea, a piece of music? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nature is my main source of inspiration. Sunlight filtering through leaves, dew on the grass, misty layers on the horizon… My eyes translate these into entangled threads, beads, and fabric.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Materials, craftsmanship, and commitment<\/h2>\n\n

You work with noble, recycled, or local materials. Could you tell us more about your ethical approach in material selection? <\/h3>\n\n

Yes, I\u2019m very particular about my raw materials. I studied eco-design for a year<\/strong>, and it really opened my eyes. In today\u2019s world, creating comes with an impact\u2014and the pursuit of beauty and art doesn\u2019t justify everything. I make it a point to use scraps and vintage materials whenever possible. It\u2019s more eco-friendly, yes, but it also gives the creations a soul\u2014and spices up the creative process<\/strong>! <\/p>\n\n

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Working with constraints truly boosts creativity\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

What is your relationship with slowness, the handmade, and the demands of your craft?<\/h3>\n\n

I\u2019m very drawn to Japanese philosophy<\/strong>, which seems to understand this better than we do: it\u2019s the time spent working that gives value to an object.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n

So yes, a piece made from cardboard can be just as valuable as one made of diamonds<\/strong>\u2014it\u2019s the handwork and craftsmanship that matter! That\u2019s what breathes life into objects. <\/p>\n\n

What does it mean to you to \u201cennoble\u201d a textile or an object?<\/h3>\n\n

It\u2019s exactly that\u2014taking the time! Taking the time to understand the material so you can elevate it. <\/p>\n\n

Creations and collections<\/h2>\n\n

Can you tell us about some of your key pieces, like Marqueterie d\u2019or, Orf\u00e8vrerie sur papier, or Plumes de P\u00e9n\u00e9lope?<\/h3>\n\n

I\u2019m really interested in the history of trompe-l\u2019oeil<\/strong>, because it pushes us to be inventive and to push the boundaries of techniques and materials. And honestly, it doesn\u2019t matter if the result actually tricks the eye\u2014what matters is the creative journey. <\/p>\n\n

Orf\u00e8vrerie sur papier<\/strong> is a study of the effects of 18th<\/sup>-century metalwork<\/strong>. The piece is like a \u201csampler<\/em>\u201d\u2014a kind of embroidered alphabet used to practice stitches, which eventually became both a test and a framed artwork. Using paper as a base modernizes the classical materials and motifs. <\/p>\n\n

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Plumes de P\u00e9n\u00e9lope<\/strong><\/a> follows a similar philosophy. But instead of copying real bird feathers, I imagine new birds… it\u2019s the dreamlike, fantastical side of my world. Sometimes the feathers are gilded, like those mounted on inkwells\u2014my mythical bird feathers: phoenixes and more. In the end, trompe-l\u2019\u0153il is just a pretext\u2014why replicate what already exists? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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