Japanese hair ornaments held in the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs provide the starting point for this project. I had already explored these distinctive objects during my residency at Villa Kujoyama in Kyoto. Particularly captivating when carved from mother-of-pearl or lavishly embellished with it, they create a striking contrast with the hair of Japanese women.
During the Edo period, these ornaments played an essential role in securing and decorating elaborate hairstyles. For this piece, I turned my attention towards the hairstyles themselves, whose construction involved considerable complexity. By exposing the nape, traditionally regarded as a particularly sensual part of the body, these hairstyles take on a subtly carnal quality. In this piece, the hair ornament and the chignon appear to merge and intertwine, becoming a single, unified object that conveys this subtle sensuality.
Mother-of-pearl, Japanese natural lacquer. 2026.
Created at Villa Kujoyama as part of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris residency, with the support of DRAC Centre-Val de Loire.