What’s Madam?
An absurd alternative to classic arts & craft courses.
Madam’s workshops are bonkers, weird, entertaining, free of any kind of pressure to learn, progress or do well, whatever that means. No skills needed, no outcome expected other than giggles, endorphins, and more often than not something uncanny you made to bring home.
Who is it for?
Those who would like to do something creative but haven’t picked anything up since 1892
Those who have no talent and don’t see why they should have any
Those who have a childish mindset but grown-up acquired tastes
Those who think they don’t have an artistic bone in their body
Those who like starting something and not necessarily finishing it
Those who always fuck it up
Those who hangout with “actual” artists and therefore think they’re not
Those intimidated because they think other people know what they’re doing (they don’t)
Who’s behind it?
Agathe Cury, enchantée!
That’s not me on the picture, I don’t look that French.
(I do).
I’m known worldwide for screwing up any art project I start. “Signature” knots and holes in anything I craft, multiple needle scars on my fingers, and I have been recently told that I “shouldn’t draw, it’s really unsettling” (see self-portrait right there).
In a previous life, I was a filmmaker, editor, video swiss army knife and ad agency director. Post lockdown and burnout, I realised I needed more hands-on creativity in my life, and started looking for classes to attend.
But I struggled to find something that felt right for me.
I was looking for workshops based on weird ideas, where laughing would be more important than learning, where all kinds of supplies would be game, from clay to quality street wrappers. Workshops that would bring me back to a childish kind of creativity, where it’s all about the process rather than the outcome, but that would tap into my grown-up acquired tastes and humour.
They say if you can’t find the way, create one. I took it quite literally, and Madam was born.