We were lucky to catch up with Capucine Bourcart recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Capucine, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic is a unique blend of diverse cultural influences shaped by my heritage and upbringing. Originating from Alsace, a region with a strong Germanic influence, I have adopted values such as punctuality, efficiency, and a structured approach. These are vital for effectively handling various responsibilities and tasks. This Germanic discipline is complemented by the resilience and dedication inherited from my Vietnamese heritage, mainly from my grandfather. These Vietnamese values, emphasizing hard work, respect for authority, and a sense of collectivism, are crucial for perseverance and commitment.
Additionally, the French cultural emphasis on intellectual rigor and qualifications has instilled in me a deep respect for knowledge and continuous self-improvement. This French influence encourages critical thinking and a pursuit of excellence, further enriching my work ethic. Alsace’s methodical discipline, Vietnamese resilience and hard work, and French intellectualism have shaped my professional conduct. Still, it has also become a core part of my identity. It guides me to approach tasks with integrity, dedication, and a well-rounded perspective.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As an artist with over a decade of experience, my journey has been as diverse as it has been enriching. Originally from France, where I worked as a press officer in Paris, my life took a significant turn when I moved to New York due to a career opportunity for my partner. There, I transitioned into marketing and business development but soon found my true calling in the arts.
Art has been a constant in my life, a familial legacy dating back to my great-grandfather. However, it wasn’t until a pivotal moment – losing my job – that I fully embraced my path as a full-time artist. This decision was bolstered by the local art scene in Harlem, where I have actively participated in shows. During the pandemic, I founded an artists’ collective, which has become our support system, culminating in organizing local art events through grants. This initiative led me to pursue and complete a Master’s in Fine Arts last year.
My artistic practice involves creating mixed-media paintings, installations, and performances. A significant source of inspiration is my family heritage. My paternal ancestors from Alsace, who were involved in the textile industry, and my maternal Vietnamese grandfather, a ‘Cong Binh’ during WWII, provide contrasting narratives that fuel my work. I explore these disparities, drawing connections through the union of diverse materials and techniques. My work often includes unexpected items like cat fur, lint dryer, and pigeon feathers, combined with luxurious materials such as 24k gold thread, freshwater pearl beads, and silk to create dialogues between the discarded and the extraordinary.
The most exciting aspect of my work is its ability to bridge different worlds – the acknowledged and the hidden, the loud and the mute. I aim to celebrate harmony through diversity, a theme that resonates strongly in our current global context of wars, ecological crises, and digital disconnection.
Recently, I’ve initiated a series that integrates elements from the natural, animal, and human worlds, focusing on simplifying shapes and colors while introducing three-dimensional forms. This series seeks harmony among these realms, reflecting my desire for balance in a tumultuous world. Looking forward, I am excited to continue evolving my artistic practice and engage more deeply with communities through my work. My art is not just a form of expression but also a medium for fostering dialogue and understanding in these challenging times.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Reflecting on my journey as an artist, the three most important qualities are perseverance, discipline, and authenticity. These traits shaped my artistic path and offered guidance through the complexities of a creative career. Undoubtedly, the artistic path is a solitary one, requiring perseverance. As an artist, I face scattered challenges at every turn of the journey, ranging from external critiques to internal doubts. While listening to these is important, dwelling on them can be detrimental. Additionally, I must handle everything from creating my work to managing my image, organizing the studio, and handling the accounting. Often, the creative part becomes much smaller than the rest of the tasks necessary to continue on my path.
The second essential quality is discipline. I can achieve some things by adopting a rigorous practice. Given the many facets to focus on, it’s crucial to be organized, set up a plan, and follow it closely. I have developed weekly, monthly, and semi-annual plans. For instance, at the end of each week, I create a schedule that I follow rigorously. This involves allocating time for creation, searching for and writing applications, visiting artists’ studios, attending exhibitions or openings, and managing accounting and communication. I try to vary my routine a bit to avoid monotony, but in the end, I always complete everything according to plan.
The final key is authenticity, which means staying true to my vision and style, especially in a world of opinions and trends. Being true to my point of view is not always easy. It involves a period of isolation and not sharing my work in progress. Creating in a vacuum allows the time for my ideas to mature, ensuring the thoughts or views of others do not alter them.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
In the initial phase of my life’s journey, my parents grappled with uncertainty, hesitant to prescribe a definitive path for me. Their original expectations hewed closely to tradition, envisioning a trajectory involving marriage and the joys of parenthood—an orientation that diverged sharply from my desires. The concept of a professional life seemed extraneous to them, resulting in an advantageous circumstance where their limited involvement in my academic and vocational pursuits proved fortuitous. This lack of preconceived expectations allowed me to chart my exploration course.
In matters of artistic sensibility, my parents exhibit a propensity for the classical aesthetic, evoking the pastoral charm of watercolor landscapes reminiscent of my grandfather’s craft—a predilection particularly pronounced in my father. While demonstrating a receptivity to avant-garde forms, my mother remains steadfast in her belief in the sanctity of academic art. Their exposure to contemporary artistic currents, albeit circumscribed, imparts a measure of open-mindedness tinged with a trace of skepticism. Frequent clarifications are sought regarding understanding my work, a divergence that strays markedly from their familiar artistic norms. Yet, paradoxically, their astounded observation of my creative odyssey inadvertently preserves an open path for me to traverse and flourish in my artistic pursuits.
Against this nuanced backdrop, my piano teacher emerges as the foremost influencer on my journey. She discerned latent facets within me that eluded the notice of others—a delicate sensitivity and an incipient reservoir of artistic expression. Her unwavering belief in my potential became the cornerstone of her mentorship. With finesse, she nurtured my artistic inclinations and fortified my confidence, unveiling a profound tapestry woven with patience. This support, akin to the guidance of a maestro, has indelibly shaped my artistic choices, proving pivotal in cultivating the skills and qualities essential for success. Her influence is a luminous guide, illustrating the transformative power of belief and patience in nurturing the delicate bloom of artistic talent.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.capucinebourcart.com
- Instagram: @capucinebourcart
Image Credits
Capucine Bourcart
