#7 Jihane Marie Guillemin

For a summer vacation, some friends suggested me to go to Berlin, in Germany, for a dozen of days. It's a country, a city that I didn't know at all, not even the language. I had a cold and grey vision about Germany because of what we learn about it at school, in France, the war, etc. But actually I got pleasantly surprised, I even fell for Berlin, to the point of being convinced that it's where I would like to live. And it's what I 've done already two years ago. I came to live here, in Berlin. And it's a city which inspires me a lot for my creative work, because of its underground charm and its peaceful side and also the varied architecture between the old monuments and the factories recycled as bars, clubs or restaurants. All of that mixed to the modernity and to monuments which are really designed. It gives a particular atmosphere which has its charm and where one feels good. I also like a lot the current artistic energy of Berlin. From the music to the design through the street art which I find really creative. One of my favorite place is Warschauer Strasse where we find this energy. I think one could find in my work the influence of the french style, the parisian elegance, etc. and a strong inspiration from the city of Berlin. For the moment I make everything by myself, there is a lot of work by hand, therefore some are unique pieces. My realm is really colorful, I mix minimalism and sophisticated details. At the same time I'm inspired by the forms of the nature, the old industrial architecture. I think we find this paradox in my creations. When I made my vintage and customized bags I already spent my first months in Berlin and I came back in Paris for a week-end, and I thought of an abstract vision of Berlin which I transcribed in these details made of pearls and metallic bolts. For my next collection of chains which I called "Geometric necklaces ", I stuck to this idea and I also found my inspiration in the german minimal-techno, which I personnaly like and which the symbols are often to refine the forms by using geometrical shapes. It came to the first round of triangular chains shaped as destroyed hearts. I always start to work by drawing, I sketch figures for the clothes and shapes for the accessories, and then I start the realisation.