" I leave a lot of room for the flower; it dictates many things to me. Through its shape, its softness, its color. Secondly, I also play with engraving and/or the word I choose, which also has a fundamental place in my herbariums. I have to find a subtle balance between the two. "
BÉRENGÈRE CHAMBOISSIER
BÉRENGÈRE CHAMBOISSIER
Floral design artist, ROMAINVILLE (93)
Bérengère shares her story, and how floral design became an obvious calling for her.
Tell us your story, how did you find your calling?
After studying art history and spending over ten years working in the art market for artists, galleries, and institutions, I decided in 2020 to retrain in the world of floral design, which has always fascinated me. I completed my training and opened a stand at the Saint-Ouen flea market, which became my creative space and a showcase for my work. In 2022, in order to refocus on my creative process, I changed locations and set up a studio in my garden. My work mainly consists of creating contemporary herbariums—collages composed of plants and vintage paper. To do this, I search for botanicals that I gather and press, in a quest for the perfect color and form. I work with original 19th-century engravings that I hunt for in antique shops and garage sales. I love pairing the nostalgia of old illustrations with the beauty of dried flowers to reveal new, poetic worlds. I also arrange carefully chosen words found in old books to complete this journey into the imagination.
How would you describe your style and artistic approach in a few words?
I work with dried flowers, which allow for many possibilities. I started with bouquets, wreaths, wall hangings, arrangements combined with ceramics, etc. Now, I primarily work with pressed flowers in the form of herbarium collages.
I am heavily influenced by the history of botanical art. I create my herbariums using antique engravings and vintage papers. The importance of the line, the shape of the plants, the balance of colors—everything is significant. Above all, it is about telling a story.
What are the themes or subjects that inspire you most in your work?
I give pride of place to the flower; it dictates many things to me. Through its shape, its softness, its color. Secondly, I also play with engraving and/or the word I choose, which also has a fundamental place in my herbariums. I must find a subtle balance between the two. To render all the beauty of the plant and reveal an entire little poetic universe.
I believe that very literary and romantic themes inhabit me. Freedom, women, love, poetry, and our bond with nature are themes I love working on.
How do you work?
I work in a studio at the bottom of my garden. It is a very inspiring place and I am lucky to be at the heart of my craft: in the nature that I can observe endlessly. I create the majority of my pieces using plants that I grow, pick, and dry or press myself.
Do you have a specific technique or unique know-how? Without revealing all your secrets, have you developed your own methods and techniques?
Working with plant material is a very empirical process. Each variety requires specific expertise in terms of cutting, drying, etc. We approach plant life with humility because, even if a protocol is in place, we must adapt to the plant every single time.
Tell us about your daily life, your constraints, your joys, your successes…
Days as an independent creator are busy. You are the sole master on board and you have to handle everything at once! It's not always easy, but we do what we love.
I try to divide my working time between designing and making pieces (which takes a lot of time) and communication and marketing (photos, emails, managing social media, etc.).
A message to convey, anything else you would like to share?
Bring some flowers into your life! They are an inexhaustible source of beauty and joy, and we need them so much.