[The] basket [...] is composed of flattened and unfolded bamboo stems, and its bold appearance [...] makes the work as dynamic as the swirling waters - extract from the exhibition catalog Fendre L'Air at Quai Branly -. My fascination with Japanese bamboo and its poetry led me to study in the country, focusing my thesis on the historical, aesthetic and technical approach to the craft.

It was an opportunity to discover how Japanese craftsmanship is apprehended, both by its practitioners and appreciators, as well as their positioning in the field of design and craftsmanship.

After discovering the making process of these bamboo craftsmen/artists and learning about Japanese leather craftsmanship over the course of a year, I witnessed the many similarities between the two materials, opening up new possibilities for hybridizing know-how.

This was followed by an apprenticeship with Tanaka Kyokusho, one of the leading figures on the contemporary Japanese Kogei scene, and an artist decorated by the Japanese Emperor for his mastery of the craft. His specialized teaching enabled me to acquire the basics of the craft, from cutting a raw bamboo cane to creating a piece of extreme finesse.