OLOW X KORALIE

6 MN

OLOW X KORALIE

To create happiness through balance, the harmony of forms and colour… In order to achieve her majestic icons of enchanting fusions, Koralie draws inspiration from her initiatory journeys. Her ingenious pieces of work diffuse a complex, refined and poetic scent around them. The French artist, already well known to the public, let us enter her “symetricophile” and “maniaco-harmonic”imaginary world to create a wonderful embroidered crop top. This colourful and bold sweater undoubtedly takes us on a journey to the other side of the world and eases our thirst for creativity…

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Hi Koralie! We’d like to look back on your journey. We found out that you studied architecture; how does that help you with your illustrating?

I’ve been drawing and painting ever since I was a child; I always wanted to do something artistic. I studied architecture and art at uni, and I carried on with architecture because I enjoyed it so much; the people I met and the way of working, too. It was very complete, we would go from geometry to pure art. In parallel with my studies, I used to paint on canvases and in the street. The link between architecture and painting wasn’t obvious to me at first, aside from the fact that I would paint symmetrical characters. As time went on, I realised that I was moving away from architecture as a job, but naturally integrating it into my art.

You started with street art and graffiti, painting on the walls in Montpellier. 

I always used to hang out in urban areas because I liked skateboarding and those kinds of cheesy street art styles, like “trompe l’oeil”. I started graffiti when I lived in Toulouse, and I began painting alone in the streets when I went back to Montpellier.

When did you decide that this activity had to become lucrative and legal?

It’s not something you decide, it comes gradually. People tend to go about things backwards, saying: “I’ve decided I want to be an artist”, trying to make a living from it, before even being an artist. It’s a way of life, you have to make and produce things first, and then, little by little, opportunities will come your way, exhibitions, collaborations. It just became obvious to me.

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You describe yourself as being a “symetricophile” and “maniaco-harmonic” on your website. We can tell you care a lot about colour harmony and balanced forms in your drawings. Why are you so interested in the idea of perfection?

Those terms “symetricophile” and “maniac-harmonic” stem from my love of psychology. We all have neurosis and I found it funny to say mine was this concern I have for harmony. I like to balance forms and colours as much as I possibly can, because I realised what makes people happy is that quest for balance. I try to mimic that in my art, rendering my pieces as balanced and harmonic as possible so that people feel good when looking at them. I like mixing different cultures; if I manage to mix them harmoniously enough so that people aren’t shocked, then my message has been passed on. I think we can live in harmony, even if we’re different, because we have managed to find the right balance.

You master many artistic processes, whether it be collage, acrylic or oil painting, or graphic design. How do you mix all these techniques together in your work?

I actually have quite a defined message and I use any technique that will then help to increase its meaning. It’s all about balance, once again: I need my computer to create my little symmetries and repetitions just as much as I need to paint my frescos perched 10 metres high up on a tiny nacelle at 9 in the morning when it’s 4 degrees outside. I also collaborate quite a lot, which helps with my socialising.

A few of your illustrations, with the geishas and matriochkas, obviously remind us of Japan, but there are always allusions to other cultures in your work. How do your travels influence your art?

When people ask what influences me, I always say travel. My world was inspired by Japan a lot in the beginning because I’m a manga generation kid: they were a big influence. At first, I made the connection between the really extroverted and extravagant manga girls, and the very conventional geishas. I call them “geishkas”, because they’re a mix between the Japanese geishas and the Russian matriochkas that symbolises the introduction of new cultures in my work. I then began introducing Mexican ponchos, Marie-Antoinette hairstyles, etc. to create a hybrid character. I introduced this multicultural idea into my architecture as well. When I got back from my trip to Vietnam, I mixed religious buildings, combining a mosque with a church and a Buddhist temple. I made a brand new edifice without it being shocking.

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We know that you have travelled to Asia a lot. Can you tell us about a memory or a story from there that particularly left its mark on you?

What amazes me most in Asia is all the smiling. People smile a lot in Thailand and Vietnam and I love it. I find we can save many things with a smile. Once, we were at an extremely busy market in Bangkok, when music started playing; everybody stopped walking, everyone got up, and no one moved. We couldn’t understand why, none of that stuff was written in our guidebook. Apparently, everyday or every Monday at 6pm, in every single public place, everybody just stops. It’s incredibly impressive, like a minute of silence.

We feel that you’re very interested in the world of fashion. You launched your own brand Métroplastique in 2005. What made you want to go down that route?

I have always been interested in appearance and haute couture. We decided to do it because people kept asking us why we didn’t put our illustrations on t-shirts. We were incredibly successful right from the start, with the Ministère de la Jeunesse et des Sports Award, and a stall at the Who’s Next tradeshow. We soon realised, though, that it wasn’t really our milieu and that we were moving away from our way of thinking. There really were too many constraints that meant we wouldn’t express ourselves freely. We refocused on our art, and nowadays I’m the one who mainly looks after it; I focused on derived products like stationary, prints things that meant it was easier to express myself than fashion design, which is too binding. It’s five jobs wrapped up in one.

How does your collaboration with OLOW match with your artistic vision?

When I do collaborations, the other’s world has to speak to me and be very much like mine. There has to be a mutual feeling with the people I’m going to collaborate with, and it has to be a serious proposition. I really connected with Mathieu and Valentin for my collab with OLOW. It reminded me of when I started Métroplastique, it happened really quite naturally.

KoralieSweat003_retouché

You recently redecorated the Pavillon des Canaux façade for the CARE NGO. How was that experience for you?

CARE offered I participate and I accepted, because their chosen theme, ecology, has always been important to me. I accepted only if I could find a worthwhile idea because I was overbooked at the time. I came up with the idea of a tapestry with climate  illustrations, with the causes and consequences of climate change on the world population. People had to feel attracted to the house to then move in closer, try to understand the illustrations, and then go and find out the answers inside. It’ll last until the COP21, the United Nations conference on climate change.

You have already done many exhibitions in France and the United States. You went to few cities in France recently.

That’s right. I was organising signings for my book of drawings. I was in a dozen towns around France including Lyon, Nîmes, Montpellier, Toulouse, Aix-en-Provence, Nantes, Paris, Bordeaux and Marseille.

One last question: what is your definition of Paradise?

Seeing as I’m not a believer, I’d say Paradise is on Earth. I think that my definition of Paradise is my life. I have the husband I’ve always wanted, beautiful children, and my dream job. Paradise would mean the existence of a great place, impossible to reach and definitely not when you’re alive. For me, it’s horrible to believe in Paradise. Having an idea of Paradise is Hell!

A big thank to Koralie for her answers.

Follow her news on her website and her Facebook page.

The sweat is available on our e-shop :

sweat-koralie

– M.P

Interview réalisée par Valentin Porcher
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Return shipping from France is free via Mondial Relay.

To return your parcel, it is very simple :

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  3. If your order is eligible for return, please tick each product you wish to return. If a product has been ordered in several copies, you can indicate the quantity to be returned.

  4. Indicate the reason for the return at the bottom of the order details and click on “Request a return”. You can track your return request in the “Returns” section of the “My purchases” section.

  5. Once your return request has been validated by our team, all you have to do is stick your pre-paid label (provided at the time of delivery) on the package, insert the completed returns form in the parcel and drop it off at a Mondial Relay point.

How can I return my package (International online returns)

International return packages are at the customer’s expense (including cost of shipment by the chosen carrier, customs & duties, taxes, etc.)

To return your parcel, it is very simple :

  1. Go to “My account”, in the “My purchases” section,

  2. In the list of your orders, select your order,

  3. If your order is eligible for return, please tick each product you wish to return. If a product has been ordered in several copies, you can indicate the quantity to be returned.

  4. Indicate the reason for the return at the bottom of the order details and click on “Request a return”. You can track your return request in the “Returns” section of the “My purchases” section.

  5. Once your return request has been validated by our team, simply download the return form and place it in your package. 

  6. Send your package to the address indicated on the return form.

Want to make a return request with a guest account?

It's very easy : contact us by email at service-client@olow.fr indicating your order number, the items you wish to return and whether you wish to request a refund, a credit note or an exchange.

How long does it take to get my money back once my package has been sent?

Refunds will be made within 10 days of receipt of your items and automatically to the account associated with the credit card used for payment or to the Paypal account used for payment.

Is it possible to return my item in the shop?

No, for all internet orders, returns can only be made to the address mentioned above.

What can I do if my item has a defect?

We take great care in the manufacture and finishing of our products. However, if you wish to report a manufacturing defect on a product, we invite you to contact our customer service by e-mail: service-client@olow.fr.

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How to order?

Please follow the following instructions in order to submit an Order:

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  2. Follow the instructions on the Website to place your orders and especially the instructions given to create a Customer account;

  3. Fulfil the Ordering form. After extended inactivity you may encounter an automatic cancellation of the Goods you submitted. You shall start a new Order of any Good and Service you wished to order;

  4. You shall check the Goods and Services you Order, and if necessary, please identify and correct the error;

  5. Confirm the Order, the Total Price as well as the All-Inclusive Price (the “Order Confirmation”);

  6. Follow the payment Website instructions in order to pay the All-Inclusive Price.

After you have submitted an order, the Customer receives by email and without delay a confirmation of his approval of the Order.

The Customer also receives by email and without delay, a receipt of the order sent electronically, regarding as a confirmation of the order (“Order Confirmation”).

The Customer receives electronically, the confirmation that the Goods have been dispatched.

The delivery shall take place at the location indicated by the Customer at the time of the Order.

Additionally, by undertaking these different steps to Order, the Customer accepts to strictly comply with this Agreement, in accordance with section 1316-1 of the French Civil Code.

The Vendor undertakes to deliver the Goods and Services subject of the Order Confirmation. In the event that a Good ordered is unavailable, the Vendor will promptly inform the Customer about this.

However, under section L.122-1 of the French Consumer Code, the Vendor reserves the right to cancel your Order if the Order is abnormal, involves bad faith or for any other reason that is under the sole discretion of the Vendor. The Vendor also reserves the right to reject orders from any customer with whom the Vendor have an ongoing legal dispute regarding a prior order.

Free delivery and exchange offered

For orders over €120, delivery is free.

Returns are free from France thanks to our prepaid label.

Prices and delivery times

Shipping cost

Collection points: €5

Home delivery with signature: 7.5€

Free delivery for orders over 120€

Delivery time

2-4 working days

Allemagne, Autriche, Belgique, Bulgarie, Chypre, Danemark, Espagne, Finlande, Grèce, Hongrie, Italie, Malte, Pays-Bas, Pologne, Portugal, République Tchèque, Suède, Ukraine

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €9.5

Free delivery for orders over 120€.

Delivery time

4-7 working days

Andorre, Biélorussie, Croatie, Islande, Monaco, Norvège, Royaume-Uni, Russie, Suisse, Turquie

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €9.5

Free delivery for orders over €120

Delivery time

5-8 working days

Bahamas, Canada, États-Unis, Mexique

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €15

Free delivery for orders over €120.

Delivery time

5-9 working days

Argentine, Brésil, Chili

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €27

Free delivery for orders over €120.

Delivery time

6-9 working days

Arabie Saoudite, Bahreïn, Chine, Corée du Sud, Émirats Arabes Unis, Hong-Kong, Indonésie, Israël, Japon, Malaisie, Qatar, Singapour, Taiwan

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €24

Free delivery for orders over €120.

Delivery time

4-7 working days

Australie, Nouvelle-Zélande

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €27

Free delivery on orders over €120.

Delivery time

6-10 working days

Returns

You have received your order but the product does not suit you?

You can return your products within 15 days of receiving your package, for any order.

For the festive season, the deadlines are extended to 30 days.

The items must not have been worn, washed or damaged and must be returned in their original packaging, in perfect condition for resale.

How do I return my package from France?

Return shipping from France is free via Mondial Relay.

To return your parcel, it is very simple :

  1. Go to “My account”, in the “My purchases” section,

  2. In the list of your orders, select your order,

  3. If your order is eligible for return, please tick each product you wish to return. If a product has been ordered in several copies, you can indicate the quantity to be returned.

  4. Indicate the reason for the return at the bottom of the order details and click on “Request a return”. You can track your return request in the “Returns” section of the “My purchases” section.

  5. Once your return request has been validated by our team, all you have to do is stick your pre-paid label (provided at the time of delivery) on the package, insert the completed returns form in the parcel and drop it off at a Mondial Relay point.

How can I return my package (International online returns)

International return packages are at the customer’s expense (including cost of shipment by the chosen carrier, customs & duties, taxes, etc.)

To return your parcel, it is very simple :

  1. Go to “My account”, in the “My purchases” section,

  2. In the list of your orders, select your order,

  3. If your order is eligible for return, please tick each product you wish to return. If a product has been ordered in several copies, you can indicate the quantity to be returned.

  4. Indicate the reason for the return at the bottom of the order details and click on “Request a return”. You can track your return request in the “Returns” section of the “My purchases” section.

  5. Once your return request has been validated by our team, simply download the return form and place it in your package. 

  6. Send your package to the address indicated on the return form.

Want to make a return request with a guest account?

It's very easy : contact us by email at service-client@olow.fr indicating your order number, the items you wish to return and whether you wish to request a refund, a credit note or an exchange.

How long does it take to get my money back once my package has been sent?

Refunds will be made within 10 days of receipt of your items and automatically to the account associated with the credit card used for payment or to the Paypal account used for payment.

Is it possible to return my item in the shop?

No, for all internet orders, returns can only be made to the address mentioned above.

What can I do if my item has a defect?

We take great care in the manufacture and finishing of our products. However, if you wish to report a manufacturing defect on a product, we invite you to contact our customer service by e-mail: service-client@olow.fr.

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