Cosmos Edition: We meet up with the artist Asile

Check out the interview with the artist Asile, real name Elisa Denève, who took part in the Cosmos edition.

Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

 

My name is Elisa, and I sign my illustrations under the name Asile. My world is populated by plump, cheerful characters, colourful vegetation and dreamlike landscapes. My approach is at once poetic, uncomplicated and playful.

Through my drawings, I want to convey a genuine ode to kindness and love, for ourselves and others. I love working with different media, whether it's for the press, digital media or craft.

Tell us about your career path and what you're currently working on


I started out as a freelancer just after my studies, working on artistic direction projects: visual identity, graphic design, illustration, etc. Gradually, I began to focus more on illustration, building a world of my own. The live model has really played an important role in this development. This is a practice I'm passionate about, one that I continue to explore and pass on through the workshops I run. I've also been lucky enough to develop the illustration side of things at Pelostudio, which has allowed me to take my commissioned work even further.

Today, I work with brands on a wide variety of projects, always with the desire to tell a story through the way I see the world

 

 

What do you love most about your job?


Telling stories, imagining worlds where anything is possible. I love the idea of reinterpreting reality, of proposing softer, more committed, inclusive and caring visions. That's what illustration does: it opens up a different way of looking at the world. I also like to explore all kinds of media: objects, clothing, animation... Each format brings a new challenge, with new constraints and a new way of bringing my images to life!

What are your sources of inspiration?


Animations by Marine Buffard.
Illustrations by Núria Tamarit.
Ceramics by Marie-Yaé Suematsu.
The humour of Anouk Ricard.
Floral arrangements by Justine Beaussart, aka Nebbia Studio.
The world of Miyazaki.
The commitment shown by Salomé Saqué.
I also draw a lot on nature, Japanese prints, flowers... and live models, always.

How did the partnership with Opinel come about?

 

The Art By Friends gallery suggested this project and I accepted it without a second's thought! I live in Haute-Savoie, so Opinel is a bit of an institution where I'm from. Here, everyone has one, or several. I also really like the idea of working with a local brand that respects the environment, and with products made in France.

How did you come up with the idea for the drawings on the knife, what influenced you?


The theme of the cosmos spoke to me straight away. I love this idea of the link between nature, human beings and the universe, where anything is possible – where everything can be reinvented. For this project, I wanted to talk about balance: between day and night, the Sun and the Moon. It's not a duel, it's a conversation. So I imagined two figures sitting on a crescent moon, gazing at one another tenderly. Their clothes, adorned with solar and stellar motifs, show that they are different yet complementary. Around them, three birds carry stars, as if redrawing a constellation. I loved this soft, floating image, suspended between dream and reality.

How long did this project take you? What were the different stages?

 

I started by using poses from live modelling sessions, in conjunction with the idea of balance and connection. Then I looked for a narrative between the characters, producing several sketches. Once Opinel had chosen the sketch, I refined the illustration, added the colours and made a few adjustments. The real challenge was the format: working on such a small surface and in volume required a great deal of precision and checking. I had to do quite a few full-scale print tests to make sure that each element remained legible and that the image worked well when applied to the knife.

Which is your favourite Opinel knife?

 

The No.06 pocket knife: it's simple, practical and can be taken anywhere.

 

 

Do you have any memories or a story about Opinel that you can share with us?

 

What I like most of all are the stories that other people tell me about their Opinel, during a hike, a picnic or a cooking workshop... I have the impression that each Opinel has its own story and that's what I find beautiful: it's an everyday object, but with a strong emotional value that's specific to each person.

 

 

Describe Opinel in 3 words.

 

Committed, practical, timeless.