One to Watch
Marion Costentin
Marion Costentin is a young emerging artist, born in 1988 and living in Paris, France. By paring down her color palette and working primarily with shades of black, white, and grey, the focus of her hauntingly beautiful drawings rests upon her ghostly subject matter: nature, shadowplay, and the peculiar quality of light. Nature is an omnipresent force in her work, as she finds it the perfect metaphor for exploring human emotions. Marion has exhibited extensively in Paris, and we believe she is ripe for international discovery.
What are the major themes you pursue in your work?
To describe my work, I like to use the image of an abyss. I see myself as a shadow worker, not afraid of diving deep into my own darkness in order to bring it to the light of consciousness. With my art, I want to help others along the same process. We tend to turn our backs on the truth of who we are. I’m looking for depth, fears, concealed memories, and raw emotions. I relate to nature immensely because it reflects the inner peace I’m pursuing, all the while being broken and tormented. There is also a supernatural aspect to my work. My awareness of other realities is growing and becoming a main focus in my practice.
What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
“Be strong.” I believe real strength lies in the ability to follow your heart and believe in yourself. It can’t go wrong if you are creating from a place of love and if you trust yourself enough to get out there and make things happen. True art and true love are the same thing.
Prefer to work with music or in silence?
I am almost incapable of working in silence. I like to work with music because it creates a safe space around me. I tend to get lost in thoughts that take me away from the creative process. Music keeps me balanced and puts me in a meditative state through which I’m able to transcend whatever comes to mind. Since my work is very cathartic, a lot of darkness surfaces. I need to be aware of it. My favourite albums to work with are Portishead’s Dummy and Radiohead’s Amnesiac.
If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
It would be The Nightmare by Johann Heinrich Füssli. This is the most important painting of my life. For years I suffered from frightening episodes of sleep paralysis that shook me to the core. I believe these experiences shaped my artistic and spiritual development. I saw the painting in a museum once and broke down in tears.
Who are your favorite writers?
I will have to go with poets: Sylvia Plath, Victor Hugo, Emily Dickinson, and Pablo Neruda. Poetry helps me define sensations and brings depth to my mental landscapes. In the future I would love to publish my own collection of poetry, illustrated with drawings.
