Planète lointaine Painting by Elisabeth Durandin

Élisabeth Durandin, painter and visual artist, nourished her artistic passion since her studies at the National School of Applied Arts and Crafts in Paris. Her diverse professional background has led her to explore different forms of artistic expression, ranging from the design of models for furnishing fabrics to the creation of wall decorations for public and private spaces, including the manufacture of masks and the creation of show sets. She also spoke in schools, leisure centers and seminars, sharing her passion and stimulating the creativity of others.

For Élisabeth, art is a tool for communication and discovery of oneself and others. She distinguishes three facets of her art: solitary creation in her workshop, collaboration in enriching collective works, and the transmission of her knowledge and artistic passion through workshops with children and adults.

Her current artistic research revolves around the face and the mask, an interest that she has cultivated since a significant internship in 1979 in Paris. The masks she creates, imbued with mystery and serenity, have no borders or precise era, but evoke diverse influences such as those of the Easter Islands, Africa and Antiquity. For Élisabeth, each mask embodies a search for origins, an introspection and an exploration of the mysterious silence of the totems.

The paper clay technique, which she particularly likes for her masks, teaches her patience and perseverance. Each layer of paper coated with glue helps to give shape to a solid structure, where each unusual detail takes advantage of the unexpected. Creating a mask thus becomes a process where the work gradually comes to life, independently of its creator.

At the same time, drawing remains for Élisabeth a pure pleasure where the brush and chalk give birth to faces, women, children, exploring themes such as motherhood with a particular sensitivity for fleeting moments captured on the spot.