How to invent a new discipline? How to make traditional techniques evolve towards a more creative universe? Mathieu shared with us his experience in cabinet making, where passion and creation are his keys to success.
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“I am a cabinetmaker and therefore a craftsman. A profession that combines craftsmanship in the ‘manufacturing’ sense and artistic creation. The attraction for this profession comes mainly from this complementarity between a manual activity and a work of reflection, of more abstract creation. Making hands and head work in harmony” is how Mathieu defines his activity.
An environmental and energy engineer, Mathieu graduated from INSA Toulouse and Ecole des Mines de Paris in 2006. He began his professional career as an engineer in Paris and then in Corsica, where he worked for 10 years. But in search of meaning, Mathieu deeply felt the need to do something else.
“I have always drawn informally, and I felt that I needed to create something else. I loved wood, a noble and living material. So I decided to develop my skills and knowledge in this area.“
He then undertook training in cabinetmaking at the Boule school in cabinetmaking. He obtained a vocational aptitude certificate (BEP) in 1 year, then a vocational diploma (Brevet des Métiers) in Art, specialized in cabinet making at the Bonne Graine school, alternating work in a workshop for events and decor. “I loved both wood and creating. Those were wonderful years.”
Soon after, he wished to create furniture and have his own line of furniture. So he set up a furniture and event design company in Paris for 3 years. With his experience as an engineer and his expertise as a draftsman, designer, builder and coordinator, Mathieu has many assets to develop a new type of cabinet making.
“After years of working in a purely cerebral profession, I enjoy working on transforming, with an immediate and tangible impact on the material world. What also appeals to me in this profession is the possibility of combining traditional know-how and advanced techniques to get the best of both. And then there is the taste for beauty…”
Wanting a change, he decided to move to St Barths with his architect friend, and created his company of carpentry and layout, furniture, signage: MILLE.
His specialty is associating cabinetmaking with computer graphics, a mix between traditional know-how, handmade cabinetmaking, marquetry and straw marquetry, and state-of-the-art techniques, digital cutting and 3D printing.
This leads him to create exceptional wall decorations of great finesse and elegance.
He also works with gold leaf gilding with the sea, zoology and geometry as his sources of inspiration. Geometry is often found in nature through the golden ratio, fractals, helices.
“I sometimes work on very specific projects, or on the contrary I concentrate on very personal creations, without any requirement of profitability. What I particularly like is working on projects where I can establish a real dialogue with my customers.
Understanding their needs, their tastes, their desires and, through pencil sketches, plans or digital models, proposing customized solutions. This opportunity to invent and create on a daily basis is a great opportunity. I try to maintain this constant renewal in my work, by searching for new materials, original patterns, by the care given to details that make the projects unique. I believe that accuracy and listening to customers make the difference.”
Mathieu also develops more personal artistic works, such as wood and nylon thread suspensions exhibited at the latest Art Party, with aquatic life as a source of inspiration.
To be discovered, if you don’t already know him.
