Clotilde Aksin-Frappier was born in the port city of Le Havre, France, in 1971. 

 

It is in this city that Claude Monet painted 'Impression, Sunrise,' which gave its name to the Impressionist movement. And this may not be unrelated to Clotilde Aksin-Frappier's artistic pursuit of light.

 

During her adolescence, she attended drawing and oil painting classes for several years.

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While studying Literature at La Sorbonne in Paris, she pursued a curriculum in Art History at the 'École du Louvre,' which translates to 'School of the Louvre - National Institute of Art History.' It is a prestigious higher education institution dedicated to the study of archaeology, art history, anthropology, museology, and related fields. Overall, the École du Louvre plays a significant role in the preservation, study, and promotion of art and cultural heritage in France and beyond.

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As the borders opened up after the fall of the Soviet Union, young Russian artists broke free from traditional norms while drawing inspiration from Western culture, particularly techno music and contemporary art. Clotilde Aksin-Frappier then moved to Moscow, where she lived for four years between 1994 and 1998. There, she wrote articles for various Russian and French newspapers, including the magazine Ptuch (птюч), a playful, phonetic spelling of the Russian word 'птица' (ptitsa), which means 'bird' in English. During the 1990s, a time of significant cultural change in Russia, new influences from the West and other parts of the world began to shape Russian art and culture. Publications like 'Ptuch' played a crucial role in documenting and promoting these developments, and Clotilde Aksin-Frappier participated in these exciting times for young artists.

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Upon returning to France, she received training in screenplay writing and editing, areas in which she worked for several years. She edited numerous projects for exhibitions, especially for the Foundation and Gallery Maeght, commonly known as the Fondation Maeght in French, a renowned art institution located in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a picturesque village in the south of France. It was founded by Aimé and Marguerite Maeght in 1964. The Maeght family had strong connections to the world of art, particularly the modern and contemporary art scenes, and they aimed to create a space dedicated to promoting and showcasing the work of avant-garde artists of the time. Clotilde Aksin-Frappier worked extensively on the archives of a family that had close ties to prominent artists such as Joan Miró, Picasso, and Pierre Bonnard.

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Since 2008, she has been based in Port Louis, Brittany, where she continues her work in editing, conducts workshops, and creates commissioned films, as well as original documentaries. Since 2016, she has gradually returned to using pencils, pastels, and brushes, dedicating all her time to creative pursuits. Her preferred technique is oil pastel.

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In essence, Clotilde Aksin-Frappier's career showcases a lifelong dedication to art and culture, artistic exploration, and hands-on creativity. Her journey, from an early interest in art to academic pursuits, immersion in the dynamic cultural scene of Moscow, capturing the zeitgeist of young Russian artists breaking free from traditional norms, her engagement with prominent artists' archives, and a return to her own artistic practice, all reflect a narrative of someone who has dedicated her life to the creation of art.