SIMON PILLARD (35)

This Parisian previously circled the fashion circuit in the design team of French brand Castelbajac before recently becoming the art and creative director for The Mall Group’s art department. Pillard is the very person responsible for the cute, massive polar bears on display at EmQuartier last Christmas.

What was your idea of summer for your piece at Museum of Me?

My first idea was to do something really pop and fresh so my inspiration came from African wax patterns. It’s a mix between African patterns, with sunsets and dolphins. I also wanted to be a bit kitsch, something a bit bad taste. I like it when it’s really borderline oldfashioned and new. That’s why colours are really 80s: with violet, yellow and pink. It’s not the colour that I would like for my house, but altogether it’s so awful that in the end I love it.

Who is your favourite artist?

The one I love the most is Nathalie du Pasquier. She was the woman who did all the patterns for Memphis Designs. She did a lot of fabrics, carpets and she drew some design items too. It’s funny because she’s making a comeback. She was famous before, but now she’s even more famous because there is a big comeback of the 80s and so a lot of brands ask her to do patterns and designs for them. She did a thing with American Apparel three years ago and I love her colours. She did a big exhibition in Biennale last year and it was amazing.

What is a gallery/museum you really love?

One that I love in Paris is Palais de Tokyo. Now it’s bigger than before with new spaces so it’s really impressive. I love the space because when I started to work in Paris, I used to be invited with my boss to a vernissage. I remember going to lots of parties and dancing in this space so I like it a lot. Also because it’s rough and looks like a factory. All the museums in Paris are amazing. Every time I go to the Louvre, it’s stunning for me even when you know everything by heart. It’s always really exciting and impressive to see the pictures you used to see in a book.

What has been the most fun project you’ve worked on?

When I worked for Castelbajac, there was one time we did a pair of shoes with a lot of jewels on it, as well as a jacket with lots of jewels for a fashion show. After the show, Beyoncé used it in a clip with Lady Gaga so I was really proud. I once worked with Kanye West because he was launching his own fashion brand and asked for a lot of advice from Castelbajac. He came over and we worked all night over the computers on some patterns. It was fun for me.

How do you feel about commercial art?

I don’t do art for art. I don’t consider myself an artist, but more of someone creative who designs. I think the days when Jean-Michel Basquiat slept on the streets — it doesn’t exist anymore. When we do art, it is to serve something bigger and sometimes it’s commercial but that’s OK. It’s always better to use art than to have horrible packaging.

WHEN WE DO ART, IT IS TO SERVE SOMETHING BIGGER AND SOMETIMES IT’S COMMERCIAL, BUT THAT’S OK

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