Diamonds in the Sky
Interview with Victor Guerithault, kite designer from Rennes, France.
Guerithault is the owner of kitelab. The hallmark of his kite-building skills is building expandable kites. The trained artist and designer has developed a construction game that allows the color and shape of the kite to be scalable. The goal of this flexibility is to involve the user in the design and adapt the kite to changing conditions, depending on the situation. The artist maintains a deep, almost poetic relationship with his art. Victor Guerithault himself says:
"The kite, an object of freedom, synonymous with summer and the beach, has existed for over two thousand years. With nearly a billion users worldwide, it captivates and inspires the user to dream through a poetic gesture – a magical connection we maintain with the sky."
Did a kite or a person spark your passion for kites?
My first encounter with a kite was in 2004 in China, in Tian An Men Square in Beijing (I was just eleven years old at the time). My family and I had moved in with my father, who worked there as an architect. So I'd say my father was the first person who made all of this possible for me and instilled in me the passion for building, understanding, and sharing. I owe my discovery of this magnificent object to him. We bought two traditional kites there, which I still have in my workshop today.
Then came the rediscovery of kites during my design studies at the Rennes Art School, which I graduated in 2018. One day, a teacher, who is now a very good friend, showed me a photo of one of Alexander Graham Bell's largest tetrahedral kites, and I was immediately fascinated. With my passion for architecture, structure, and construction games, I knew I had the opportunity to make a difference in this field.
Where do your kite-making skills come from?
During my studies, I was fortunate enough to complete an internship with Michel Gressier, a well-known kite artist. The Kitelab hadn't been founded yet, and I hadn't yet graduated. During this internship, I acquired some knowledge and was then able to continue with perseverance, passion, and courage, finding harmony between the kite as an object and the new tools at our disposal.
What fascinates you about geometric shapes?
I've always loved geometry, ever since I can remember, even in elementary school. I think my father was an architect and introduced me to this field/passion. It's funny, but I'm always very bourgeois, meaning that when you come into the workshop, everything is perfect. Not a single wire or rope is out of place; everything is in its place, neat and tidy. I think that's a very important quality if you want to feel comfortable in your workplace. As for the geometric shapes of my kites, that's a construction game I invented that allows for a whole range of geometric shapes. I like things to be straightforward, well-ordered, and well-calculated. That's calming.
Your kites seem like celestial ornaments – what do you think about them, and do you have a message?
Thank you for the kind words. I try to be unique in this environment, to incorporate my own personality, my own objects, my characteristics, my knowledge, and I hope to pass all of this on one day. If the kite still exists today, it's because it's a unique object. I hope I can be part of this family of people who share and coexist with the art of others. I hope I've found the right voice for that.
I love building my kites, seizing the moment and letting them fly, breathe, and dream. I want to continue to cultivate this close connection with the wind and the sky and pursue this passion.
What has been your greatest artistic achievement?
I graduated in 2018. And then the COVID pandemic hit—a total professional disaster. 2021 has been a year of renewal—for all of us, but even more so for the artistic professions that interact with the public. 2022 was "the consecration," as a French luxury company contacted me to organize a festival dedicated to their creations and the fabric used on my kites. Since then, luxury brands have continued to ask me to design kites for their events. The most important thing for me is to continue sharing my creations and my passion, whether with brands, associations, festivals, or even clients.
My greatest personal achievement is always making my parents and family proud. I continue to invent new materials, such as Mylar kites, which are so effective and unique in the sky.
What are your professional goals?
May the wind carry me to new encounters, new projects, and new energies.
Who is your favorite artist?
I don't really have a favorite artist. I follow and like what I like and what inspires me. As the great Italian designer Achille Castiglioni said, "If you're not curious, forget it. If you're not interested in the work of others, what they do, and how they achieve it, then you don't have the soul of a designer."
Do you have a favorite kite maker?
In the kite world, I would say Alain Micquiaux. I've been participating in the A Tout Vent festival in Notre Dame de Mont for three years, and I'm participating again this year. Alain is a true kite artist. I love his simplicity, his lightness, but also the complexity of his creations. I love the emptiness and fullness that characterize these creations, and I respect him greatly. He always listens and is open to new projects.
A favorite kite? Tetrahedron, I think that's not surprising (laughs). I love the shape, the flying characteristics. Depending on the wind, it gets bigger. I love flying 5, 10, or 15 identical kites at once, like a family.
What was your most memorable kite experience?
I think it was a day in Dubai when there were 70 or more tetrahedral kites in the air. I think that was the only time I've ever seen that many of my kites in the sky at once.
What do you think is the most impressive event in the kite world that fans should attend at least once in their lifetime?
Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of kite festivals; I'm often taken to kite productions or demonstrations. But I would love to go to Cervia, Italy, or the Bondi Beach Festival in Sydney (I was invited in 2020, but it wasn't possible due to COVID-19).
Further information: https://www.kitelab.fr/
