The Art of Silence: Violette Pacreau Explores Expression Through Sustainable Materials

As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Architectural Design department of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, Weidmann Fiber Technology continues to highlight the creative perspectives of students who explored the potential of Maplex Board in their graduation projects.

In this feature, we speak with Violette Pacreau, an artist and architectural designer based in Paris. Her project “I Need Silence” captures the intersection between material, emotion, and expression, blending artistic sensitivity with a thoughtful approach to sustainability.

Violette shares insights into her artistic process, her experience working with Maplex, and her reflections on the evolving role of sustainable materials in art and design.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your graduation project, and what motivates you to prioritize sustainability in your design projects?

I’m an artist and architectural designer based in Paris, France. I recently graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, with an academic background in French private law.

My practice spans painting, illustration, and drawing, often centered on portraiture and the human form. I work primarily with pencil, ink, and acrylics. I’m drawn to faces, gestures, and the quiet narratives they carry, working from both life and memory to explore identity, isolation, and inner worlds.

The materials for my drawings and paintings vary between wood, fabric, and paper. The texture and surface of these materials influence the experience of painting and drawing, adding new layers of meaning and interpretation to the story being told. This is why I was very excited to work with new, sustainable options offered by Maplex.

What inspired you to choose sustainable biobased materials, and Maplex specifically?

The paper I was offered to test had a range of colors and textures I hadn’t seen in an art shop before.

How did the performance and functionality of Maplex meet your expectations during the project’s development? Were there any surprising advantages or limitations to using this material?

The blue paper, recycled from used jeans, allows the skin tones I create to stand out vividly. Its texture is also wonderful to work with: it has enough grain to hold the pigment of colored pencils yet remains subtle enough not to interfere with the final design. Discreet yet highly functional.

How do you envision the role of sustainable materials evolving in the design industry?

As an artist, I enjoy experimenting with new materials, mediums, and techniques. This process helps me discover the most authentic ways to tell stories. Sustainable materials provide exciting alternatives that present new possibilities for expression.

What advice would you give to other designers regarding their material choices in projects?

My advice would be to choose your base materials wisely and not only because of their price or popularity. The foundation of your work is what guarantees its durability over time. Avoiding toxic substances, cheap composites, or unreliable products will prevent your work from degrading prematurely. Sustainable and durable materials help ensure that your creations last.

What are your aspirations and plans for the next year in design?

I’m curious and always eager to explore new approaches. I hope the coming year will bring more opportunities to experiment, face new challenges, and refine my techniques.