Emmanuelle Moureaux born in 1971 is a Tokyo based French architect, artist and designer who is known for implementation of color throughout her designs. Emmanuelle fell in love with Ikebukuro, an outskirt city of Tokyo, Japan, while doing research for her thesis and has lived there since 1996.She founded emmanuelle moureaux architecture + design in 2003.The concept driving all of her work is shikiri, which literally means “dividing and creating space through colors.” Emmanuelle created this concept of using color as a three dimensional element that can create space rather than a finish applied to surfaces as an afterthought.
Emmanuelle has many works in architecture including the Sugamo Shinkin Bank Shimura Branch, but also designs art installations, interiors, and products. Emmanuelle hopes to create emotion through color and allow people to experience color through touch and feel as well. This will show that colors can not only make space, but also create a space with additional layers of human emotion.
SP : Your work is exceptionally detailed, we would love to know what is the process you engage with?
EM : When I start a project, I first decide the number of colors I will use (depending on the function, site and my inspiration). At the same time I study the concept by writing and sketching. When the concept is decided, we create in my studio a lot of real scales models to study the best size of one module, the best distance between each module, to feel the design with all senses. Then, we make drawings for production. Everything is made by hand and is prepared prior to the set up. It means a huge time and the participation of a lot of people.
SP: Let us talk about your choice of materials, how do you decide the medium for a particular project?
EM: For this installation series “100 colors” which forms space using 100 shades of colors, visible in one glance, I use my own 100 colors paper or 100 colors fabrics, specially dyed in 100 shades of colors . Material itself is not important for me. Only colors matter. The absolute condition in the choice of material is to be able to obtain the beauty of colors I want, by painting, dyeing and so on.
SP : Your installationstread somewhere between art, architecture, and design, how did you come about this unique juncture?
EM : I am always on a journey between different scales, from a small art piece to architecture, trying to give emotions to people with colors. There are no specific boundaries between each work and my work process is the same.
All of my works are based on my concept of “shikiri”, which means dividing (creating) space with colors (“shikiri” is a made-up word that literally means “to divide space using colors”)
“I use colors as three-dimensional elements, like layers, in order to create spaces, not as a finishing touch applied to surfaces.”
Architecture has always been the backbone to my creations, which is the technical aspect of my design. Besides, the essence of art, which is the senses and feelings of human being getting inspired from everyday life, adds emotion to my design.
SP : We would love to know about your inspirations that helped you develop your style.
EM : When I saw the cityscape of Tokyo for the first time when I was student, I was so impressed by the colors in the city, thousands of colors seem floating in the cityscape, as layers, as three-dimensional elements. It was as if the first time I saw colors. I was so overwhelmed that made me decide to move to Tokyo. The colors and layers I feel in Tokyo were the inspiration to my concept of “shikiri”, which means dividing (creating) space with colors (“shikiri” is a made-up word that literally means “to divide space using colors”):
“I use colors as three-dimensional elements, like layers, in order to create spaces, not as a finishing touch applied to surfaces.”
“Shikiri”has adopted its shape and function according to different time and places for every project designed in the past. “Shikiri” has evolved overtime. The concept, inspired by the Japanese traditional screens, started from surface“shikiri” elements (SugamoShinkin Bank), then developed into thinner colors –line“shikiri” elements (sticks, shibafu table, toge), now is developed in particular elements like numbers (Forest of Numbers) or letters (Universe of Words)
SP: How did your artistic journey take you from France to Japan?
EM : Please refer to previous answer
SP : By the way of using vibrant colors in your artworks, what are the feelings and thoughts you try to evoke in your viewers?
EM : Emotions. For me, Color is a medium and emotion. With colors, I try to give emotions to people. Color can make people smile, give energy, joy, and most importantly they make people happy. I want people to breathe and immerse in colors, to see colors, touch colors, and feel colors with all their senses. I want people feel color with their entire body.
Image Courtesy : Daisuke Shima
Find out more about the artist:
https://vimeo.com/emmanuellemoureaux
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuelle_Moureaux
https://www.emmanuellemoureaux.com/all
