Polynésie 436

POLYNÉSIE pays homage to the découpage works of Henri Matisse. Digitally printed on a naturally slubbed linen, the alocasia foliage comes from the archives of an Italian artisan weaver. The beauty of the leaves lies in the hand of the artist and the crumpled nature of the original design. The way the leaves are represented brings to mind the découpage collages Matisse created, where paper was painted with gouache, cut out and then mounted. POLYNÉSIE typifies the desire for renewal and the will to break with conventional representations of exotic leaves. The grace of the casually placed shapes, the act of drawing and of the découpage technique are deliberately left as they are, and give the fabric all its refinement. In two tones, the colours are woven in chiaroscuro and outline a delicate band of leaves. A soft finish gives a wonderful feel and drape to this shabby-chic fabric.