Clara Rivault presents her artwork "Hedera"
Born in 1991, Clara Rivault lives and works in Paris. She graduated from the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Montpellier. With a diverse academic background, she explores a wide range of complex traditional techniques related to the fire arts. Her passion for learning new techniques using various mediums quickly led her to collaborate with different artisans. She has participated in numerous international residencies, including at Villa Médicis in Rome in November 2023. An active member of POUSH Manifesto, where she has had her studio since 2020, Rivault is now specialized in stained glass art and dedicates herself to this long creative process, initiated by photographic sampling. Her meticulous observation of organic materials and living tissues feeds into a palette of forms and textures that the artist infuses into glass, giving it a sculptural dimension.
In 2024, she created "Hedera", the artwork adorning the façade of the Institut français headquarters. She shares with us her insights on this piece, which embodies cultural richness, diversity, and international connections and encounters.
Updated on 30/10/2024
5 min

How does the work behave on the façade?
Like a living and organic plant, "Hedera" interacts with the light, whether it be sunlight, moonlight, or even the artificial lights from the street and the interior of the offices. The goal is not to obstruct the windows but rather to create a play between the openings, the leaves, and the various light sources. Light is the oxygen that brings "Hedera" to life. The work offers a dual perspective: from the outside, we can admire its winding path along the façade and its colors, while from the inside of the offices, we observe the intimate fibers and microorganisms that compose the glass. By interacting with its environment, "Hedera" becomes alive not only for those working in these beautiful spaces but also for the passersby on the street.
The work consists of a thermolacquered steel frame on which glass pieces, which you call “fruits,” are placed. Can you talk about the creation of these pieces? How do you work?
Everything begins in my studio in Aubervilliers. After the design phase, I move on to drawing. The first step is to imagine textures and colors. Over the years, I have built up a sort of color library that follows me in my works. They have become, in a way, my visual language, and they are very precious to me. I am particularly attentive to the selection of glass because the quality of the glass will influence the final result and the longevity of the work in the public space.

With these compositions and my artistic technique of using ceramic prints with eco-friendly inks, I added color and texture to each module. For the production and execution, I was supported by the poiēma architecture agency, with whom I have collaborated since the early stages of the design process. We work in close collaboration with a variety of trades in France: a glassmaker, a locksmith, and an installation company. In this sense, this work is a collaborative performance, as working on this scale is a first for me, and I am very proud of it.
One can easily imagine that "Hedera" poses a technical challenge given the size of the building, which has five floors. Does this present particular challenges? Is this the first time you've created such a large work?
For "Hedera", I was able to draw on experience from a comparable project. I created a freestanding stained glass piece, "Heureux sous son ombre", standing 2.20 meters tall, as part of the "1 building, 1 artwork" initiative by Polycités in Bondy. So, this is not the first time I’ve made an exterior stained glass piece, but working on this scale is both exhilarating and exciting.
In both projects, I encountered the same challenge: ensuring the artwork integrates seamlessly into the landscape and interacts with its surroundings, as if it had always been there. In both cases, I also had to deal with a range of technical constraints, such as wind resistance, birds, longevity, etc.
I also made the conscious choice to surround myself with the right people. Together with poiēma, we tackled all the technical and architectural questions early on, ensuring that the final synergy between the artwork and the building would be perfect.
Your works are regularly exhibited in France and abroad. What are your current projects? Do you have other upcoming works?
I participated in Art Paris 2024 in April at the Grand Palais Éphémère with my new gallery, "Les Filles du Calvaire". I am currently part of a group exhibition "NARCOSIS" at the Botanique in Brussels, running until October 27, 2024. Among my upcoming projects, I will be having my first institutional solo exhibition at the "Les Églises" art center in Chelles from February 8 to March 30, 2025, and in the fall of 2025, my first solo exhibition at the "Les Filles du Calvaire" gallery.
