Sébastien Théraulaz: Studio Visit
“I love to pick up odd things, so I need a big studio space to store them all”
INTERVIEW WITH SÉBASTIEN THÉRAULAZ AND LAURA DAY WEBB
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to be an artist?
As a teenager I was part of the graffiti scene in my city, this new street culture had a great influence when i started drawing and painting. After my studies design, I moved to Montreal. I worked there 15 years as a commercial artist doing graphic and type design, but my first love was always art. Back in Switzerland, I set up my own atelier where I can freely create.
What is your approach to starting a new work?
Mainly a simple idea… something I read, something I am struggling with or just experimenting leads me to develop a new project.
Do you listen to music when you are working and what do you listen to?
I always listen to music, since I got my first yellow Walkman. I listen to almost anything...I like to discover unknown sounds.I like northern soul, old school hip hop, 60ies rock, electro and I listen to the radio.
What role does your studio space play in your practice?
I love to pick up odd things, so I need a big studio space to store them all. The studio space is important because it is a character of my practice. I do different work in different spaces. I see it as a time-capsule, when in the studio, I am like a child on a playground.
Are there any elements or objects in your studio setup that have special significance to you and your practice?
In the many things that I have stored in my studio : every object, piece of furniture or any kind of material is related to a certain moment of my practice. For example, for a specific project, I got an old book press and an etching press to print linocut.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a series of silkscreen prints mixed with cyanotype. It is called «Wonderbox». I try to work in a more intuitive way and improvise visual elements on the spot.
How did you come about your current studio? Any interesting, funny, dramatic, inspiring stories to share?
My actual studio was rented by an artist friend for 15 years, he knew I was looking for a bigger space that’s the way I found it. The studio is located in the neighborhood I grew up in as a child. The last time I was here was almost 30 years ago. And I got a strange feeling walking in the same streets I left when I was 10. I thought about my friends at the time and all the stupid things we did along the way.