Vox Populi is a Latin phrase which means, "Voice of the people". Pascale Palun the owner of Vox Populi showroom/studio in Avignon listens, then gives a voice to old worn things.
Two pairs of satin shoes from the 1800s sit on a chair of equal history. The chair has been stripped of its brocade, left in its muslin cotton undershirt. The satin shoes most likely were for a bride, now they are filled with straw.
The bride who wore them stands by in spirit, no longer needs to sit instead she smiles down on Pascale for honoring her shoes on a familiar throne.
The voice of the people, the voice of history, is a sound that creatively moves us to feel something we often cannot label, allows us to be stirred emotionally without understanding why, and can conjure up a silent beauty that only our hearts understand.
One of many of Pascale's trademark items are sconces made from glass negatives. Pascale frames the negative in a flat iron, then creates a see-through frame in thin rod irons, the light she puts behind the negative, forming a reverse shadow box.
I have known Pascale for over ten years, her creative work is handmade, using only antique items, her eye for detail is nothing shy of perfection. Vox Populi has influenced many artists and has been unfortunately copied by large companies.
Yet her style holds true: Hand made, using antique items with her signature eye for detail.
Thin round tube iron work is her main love. Pascale makes chandeliers, sconces, birdhouses, typewriters, cages, etc from twisting, curling, looping thin iron into lace and lattice.
Then she dangles and decorates her iron pieces with crystals, bobbins, ventouses, and other antique items.
Under crystal domes that are hand blown Pascale has created paper thin gauze skull mask, or as she says, "the skin".
Her studio is a cabinet of curiosities, one literally does not know where to look first.
One of my new favorites of Pascale's artistic endeavors is her oversize, life-size portrait cushions. I bought the one with the man's portrait. Ange or Angel was his first name, he was the son of the original owners of her showroom/studio, which is a 1800s massive, beautiful old home in the center of Avignon that has never been restored…ever. Even the toilet which is a porcelain god that I can worship to, and wanted to take home, is in flo blue with a lid like a chair top!
Pascale made a print of Ange's portrait (that hangs in her studio), then transferred it to fabric creating a cushion.
French Husband said, "It is like I will sleep with an angel." I poked him reminding him I already have one by my side.
Pascale Palun, who hates to have her photo taken. I told her I know few who do. I also told her she was beautiful, in which like many of us, cannot take a compliment said, "I would rather you take a photo of my objects, of things I have collected."
But you know beauty cannot be contained, it is a source that has no boundaries, it runs with those who are willing to release it, hold it, share it most of all live it. Pascale breathes it giving it wings.
A blogger friend Jackie, from Bliss Farm Antiques, came to France to visit. After spending a day together we went to Vox Populi in Avignon to visit Pascale. Jackie interviewed Pascale for her blog. You can read more about Pascale on Jackie's blog when Jackie returns to Boston.
A glimpse into a small section of her studio making my hands itched with creative desire to do something, I don't know what, it was stronger than me. Have you ever felt like that? Where your senses are heightened, your hearts start racing and you feel creative energy exploding inside? Going into Pascale's (and her husband Bruno's) studio: showroom made me feel as if I had fallen in a river of inspiration! I could not help dive deeper and emerge goldenly.
17 rue thiers
84000 Avignon
04 90 85 70 25
04 90 87 56 25
Lundi à Vendredi
De 10h à 17h30 sur rendez-vous.
Vox Populi click here to see more….
Vox Populi the voice of the people, Pascale artistic way will cause your inner child to sing, and maybe do a cartwheel too.
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