Maïssa Toulet, is a French artist that creates Curiosity Cabinets. In glass boxed frames, Toulet places small trifles she collects from antique fairs and junk shops in an artistic display based on subject or by color. These curiosity cabinets tell a story to the viewer.
For instance, this first curiosity cabinet is called Jungle.
Toulet stated that she needs the boundaries of the curiosity cabinet frame in order to feel freedom in her artist expression. Strange how confinement inspires freedom. I will have to think on that for a while.
Of course, I really enjoyed looking at all the small objects and figuring out how they relate with each other to create an interesting collection for the curiosity cabinets.
They actually remind me of playing Barbies as a child with my Aunt Janie and as an adult with Alyssa and Brittany. I have lovely memories of tiny Barbie shoes being put on by tiny little girl fingers…first mine and thirty plus years later, my daughter and niece’s.
Isn’t it wonderful how art inspires the mind to not only generate new creative thoughts, but also releases treasured memories?
There is a short story or novella called The Bound Man (original German title: Der Gefesselte) by Ilse Aichinger that revolves around a man who wakes up one morning to find himself completely bound from neck to ankle. At first, he finds it very confining, but with time, he discovers he can do almost anything. He begins working for a circus in an act with dangerous animals. One night, his bonds are severed at a critical point in the show and suddenly he finds himself utterly incapable of saving himself from being mauled.
So the idea of finding freedom in confinement is not a new one, but one I find brings repeated surprises whenever I find an example of it such as the Curiosity Cabinets. Without limits of some kind, we can never know how remarkable any of our achievements are. The limits/boundaries give us a point of reference and a goal to surpass. Limits/boundaries/obstacles spark creativity and ingenuity. Without them, we often find ourselves lost and at a loss. An interesting paradox.
I love those! It makes me want to create something!
This was such an interesting post! Thank you so very much for sharing it! Just love popping over here..found you by way of BlogFrog, and now I try to visit as often as possible.
Again, thanks for this wonderful post!
Blessings, Joy and Tuesday Sunshine, Terri Smith
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What a great post, love all the pics!!
Smooches,
Sassy Chica