STUDIO MONSIEUR · DESIGN

When we arrive in Ouagadougou, we are seduced by the abundance of colours and shapes in the streets. Every portal, every front shop is an inspiration for patterns. Our first days are busy with collecting and sketching all the geometrical compositions of the city.

During the visit of Abdoulaye Gandema’s bronze foundry workshop, we meet Alphonse Ouedraogo, who is a bronze craftsman. When he explains to us the lost-wax process, we see the possibility to realize our sketches throughout this material with the same spontaneity of our notebook's sketches. The idea to draw with bronze attracts us right away.

The traditional lost-wax technique consists in modeling a shape out of wax. Then, the wax model is covered with many layers of clay, creating step by step the mould. Afterwards, this mould is fired, so the melted wax is extracted from the mould in order to cast the bronze inside instead.

With Alphonse's technical knowledge, we get the idea to reverse the process. Starting by creating the clay mould, we draw on it with the wax like a baker with a pastry bag on a cake. This way, the final result becomes like a 3D freehand sketch. Through this process, we imagine a series of baskets inspired by the portals from Ouagadougou.

The geometrical patterns constitute structural elements beyond their decorative role, that allow us to create light volume. The line drawing, made in a spontaneous way, involves an approximation, which is an essential part of the manual labour of the craftsman, and contributes to the unique identity of each basket.