What does the ideal dining table look like for someone who dedicates their life to beauty? Serax asks artist Tiffany Bouelle. Her answer: a tablescape that unfolds like a dreamy picture book, where plates and spoons seem to dance and speak.
Images by Kgsfrench.photo
Can you introduce yourself first?
"I’m Tiffany, a French-Japanese artist based in Paris, though I frequently travel to Japan for commissions. While I originally started as a painter, I also work across other disciplines such as interior design, fashion, and product design. In 2018, I held my first exhibition, and since then, I’ve had the privilege of presenting my work at Monnaie de Paris and the Musée des Arts et Métiers, as well as collaborating with renowned names like the prestigious department store Le Bon Marché and champagne house Veuve Clicquot."
Why did you become a painter?
"My mother is a fashion designer, and my father is an artist, so I was practically born with a pencil in my hand. In my early years, I explored countless creative professions, from DJ to stylist, but I never truly felt at home. Then, I had a life-changing accident: I was hit by a car and remained unconscious for fifteen minutes. When I woke up in the hospital, a nurse told me that someone else had died in the accident and that I was incredibly lucky to be alive. During the months of rehabilitation that followed, I realized there was only one thing I truly wanted to do in life: paint. As soon as I started regaining control over my body, I devoted myself entirely to it."
You took the Dream Table quite literally and created a surreal world. What is the idea behind it?
"I want to invite the viewer to a dinner that unfolds like a room where a child has created their own world. A dinner that resembles a dreamy picture book, where plates transform into characters, cutlery dances on the table, and objects seem to speak. By keeping the atmosphere dark and serene, the viewer is left wondering whether what they see is real or merely imagined."
Where did you find inspiration for painting on wooden trays and creating cardboard characters?
"I love old theater sets and pop-up books, and I grew up with the work of Michel Gondry. He’s the director of surreal films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep. I appreciate the simplicity and playfulness of cardboard, it’s often the first material you experiment with as a child. The beautiful finish of the wooden trays from Serax’s various collections reminded me of my favorite city in Japan: Kyoto. That’s why I used them as my canvas."
There is a clear Japanese influence in your work.
"My Japanese heritage is an integral part of my style. This influence is not only reflected in the subject matter but also in the composition. I am fascinated by Japanese urban legends, ghost stories, and personal anecdotes. I love blending life stories and personal experiences with fragments of Japanese landscapes I discover during my travels."
"The beautiful finish of the wooden trays from Serax’s various collections reminded me of my favorite city in Japan: Kyoto. That’s why I used them as my canvas."
What would your dream dinner look like in real life?
"My dream table would be thirty meters long, with an opulent, meticulously arranged centerpiece. The meal would stretch across the entire length of the table. There would be tiered stands filled with lobsters and flowers, chunks of butter shaped like cakes with buzzing bees around them, mountains of colorful bread adorned with faces and plant illustrations, braided sausages, and pitchers of vegetable juice. The table would be set on the stage of the Paris Opéra Garnier during the Gourmets performance, and every creative spirit who loves lavish feasts would be invited to take a seat."
Are you a creative and interested in curating your own dream table? Contact us at hello@serax.com
