Marianne Dubuis - Cutting Art

ARTISTIC BY NATURE

Marianne Dubuis grew up not far from the shores of Lake Geneva, but was always drawn to the mountains where she spent her weekends and holidays. This lifelong passion for the high places is reflected in her work.

Marianne has made delicate, detailed drawings since early childhood, so it was a natural progression to turn to papercutting. She made her first découpage at the age of 13, as a present for her sister. In 1979 she “officially” took up papercutting as a career, with a style she developed herself. She has tried to avoid being trapped in one particular style, preferring to use her art as a way to constantly question herself.

Marianne likes to tell stories about the world around her in pictures, in black images on a white background, or with coloured paper built up on a black découpage base. The technique is just a means to an end: the goal is to express what she feels through the picture, to share her love of the mountains, the joy of a human-scaled agriculture that stays close to nature, and the traditions and values that remain so important in the Pays-d’Enhaut region.

She loves to capture little moments of everyday life, snippets of fun to be discovered within the papercut. You need to study a découpage closely to find all the little details, and to enjoy the story that’s being told. It’s possible to bring a touch of humour to an artwork, and for Marianne it keeps everything in perspective.
Landscapes, people, the moments that make up a good day, deeper emotions … a papercut can communicate all of these, and more. It’s a way for an artist to express themself, and, for Marianne, an opportunity to move and inspire others.