Jogo Bonito: For anybody unfamiliar with your work, introduce yourself and your artistic background
Delphine: I am Delphine Dénéréaz, a textile artist born and raised in the South of France. I did a Master’s degree in Textile Design at La Cambre in Brussels. I’ve done exhibitions in Brussels, Cologne, Tokyo and Hong Kong. When I came back to Marseille in 2017, I decided to focus on weaving after receiving a loom from a weaver. Since then, I weave and I weave!
Jogo Bonito: What is the creative process like? How do you arrive to an idea?
Delphine: In my art, I mostly deal with my daily life and the motifs that surround me, my own teenage memories, Marseille streets, sports, symbols from the internet where I do pass quite a lot of time. It’s a testimony of the everyday. I love summer, the sea, pools, Southern architecture from where I’m from: the Provence region.
First I make drawings, rather simple ones. In general I already have a quite clear idea of the piece I want to do in my head. Then I cut the strips of fabrics I need, and start weaving, which takes several hours. I always make a few modifications and adjustments in the process, depending on what works best.
Jogo Bonito: Recently you’ve been working in Marseille and Arles where your work has been inspired by football culture and included the logos of Olympique Marseille and FC Nantes. Explain a little about the concept and the project.
Delphine: So In Marseille, football is really more than just a sport, it’s a way of life; even a religion for some people! It’s an important part of the Marseille identity.
In every frontstore of hairdressers or bars you can find the OM logo. Some pizzerias are giving a refund for the pizza when OM loses a match. The link is very strong between the people, Marseille and football, and L’OM is a symbol of unity. I find this very fascinating, and I love being a part of this enthusiastic spirit. It’s inspiring living in this city, that is very open, not serious, colourful, joyful.
I like the idea in crossing over between an old technic that is very feminine and the sport world which is not only for men! I produce positive pieces with a touch of humour for everybody. There is a different level of meaning in my art, the aesthetic, the symbolics, the technique and the ethical engagement because I work only with textile waist.
FC Nantes was just an order!
Jogo Bonito: Football is becoming increasingly connected to other forms of creativity. How has the sport inspired you as an artist?
Delphine: I was born in the South of France where football as such has an important place in the people’s minds and hearts. It’s the first sport we play as kids. You don’t need a lot. And with the time my interest shifted to a focus on the aesthetic of course and the social aspect of the football, which is so unifying. I really like the ground, just a few lines on a floor and you can play. And the graphics on the scarves are so inspiring, I like kitsch things with bold colours.
Few years ago, the Mucem, an important museum in Marseille held a big exhibition about football. It was fantastic, because for the first time some kids were going to thr Museum. Football provided the link between people and culture.
Jogo Bonito: Within football, scarfs have becoming increasingly important in expression- do you think we will see tapestry occupy a space within football culture?
Delphine: Not as much as scarves I think haha, it’s not a wearable object, so there’s isn’t the same interest; but I have lot of people contacting me to buy a little tapestry who are not in art business and it’s make me happy, I like that the art-form is becoming more accessible. Thanks to me, now everybody can have a little football ground at home.
On the bigger stage, I would love to work directly with L’om to make something with their old jerseys!
Jogo Bonito: Tapestry’s in the past were used to depict stories and events. Your pieces are thoroughly contemporary, with work displaying the Nike Tn logo as well as the abbreviation ACAB. What do you want to convey through your art form?
Delphine: It’s a reflection of my life, and more so of our generation and pop culture. I live in Marseille which is such an inspiring city with strong multiculturalism and when I walk down the streets, there is a lot of graffiti. Quite often it’s political, so it has influenced my work.
Textile was considered as a female art, and so it wasn’t as respected as painting or sculpting. But now things are really changing and today you can find lots of female textile art in established galleries which is fantastic. I try to make a link between something very domestic and crafty and street life and the public space through a contemporary aesthetic.
Carpets are not only for the house! They are telling our story!
Jogo Bonito: With the world under lockdown and the future uncertain, what plans have you got and can we expect to see any new work soon?
Delphine: During the lockdown I received a lot of personal orders so for me it’s a sign than people want to buy differently, from artists directly with a strong know how. Things are more sustainable now with people not only buying industrial things made by people in Asia in terrible human conditions. I think its important.
I have some shows expected for this autumn with some new pieces!