Visit by Bunka-ENSAD double degree alumna Laure Julien

On January 7th, Laure Julien, who did her double degree at our GFC course in 2020, visited the university to talk about her multiple professional experiences as an independent artist after her time at our course.

During her exchange at GFC, Laure decided to extend her time in Japan for one year, to intern with the brand Eatable of many orders (Atami, Japan), between 2021 and 2022, and apprentice with bamboo master Tanaka Kyokusho in 2022. While in Atami, she also participated in an artist-in-residence program that allowed her to develop and present a performance project with a butoh dancer dressed in silk and bamboo, inspired by the princess Kaguya. After her time in Japan, she returned to Paris to finish her education at ENSAD, where she developed a graduate collection of sculptures in bamboo and leather in 2023.

After graduation, she has been active as an independent artist, and participated in a residence project at Casa de Velázquez, Madrid, Spain, to study esparto weaving in 2024, and continued studying palm, bull rush, and soft rush weaving in Portugal during the same year. While participating in these apprenticeships and residence programs, she organised and participated in multiple exhibitions featuring her works in France, Spain, and Japan.

She returned to Japan in January of this year with a cultural activity visa, to participate in two artist-in-residence programs: a MIRA artist in residence program in Beppu, Kyushu, where she will be working with bamboo artist Takayuki Shimizu; and a residency at YUI-PORT in Niigata.

Her experiences provided a valuable inspiration for our current students, and showed that even with limited Japanese language skills, it is possible to participate in internships, apprenticeships and artist-in-residency programs in Japan! We wish Laure all the best of luck in her upcoming endeavors!

Published by bunkaglobalfashion

The Global Fashion Concentration (GFC) has been founded for students who wish to gain their MA in fashion and textile studies in English. It strives to bridge theory and practice within a global context with a focus on fashion related art and design. As the course is based in Japan, there are classes offered on Japanese aesthetics and language. An array of trans-disciplinary subjects related to fashion are offered. The core subject of the GFC, titled "Project Research", is led by specialists and industry counterparts and is designed to allow students to develop their individual research proposals both in practice and theory. Students will have access to Bunka’s celebrated fashion library and world-class fashion museum for research and inspiration. Additionally, internships at high profile Japanese brands such as Anrealage, as well as the National Art Center enable students to implement real world connections between concept and practical knowledge. To be eligible to graduate, students are required to complete either a full Master’s thesis, or a collection. In 2016, GFC launched a double degree program with the prestigious Parisian design school École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD). Students enrolled in this program will have the opportunity to present their MA project at the ENSAD final collection show and exhibition in Paris. GFC is a concentrated program: Excellence in creation and skill as well as strong motivation, commitment and patience will be required. Successful graduates will be candidates for employment in all areas and levels of the fashion industry across the world, including design, journalism, fashion buying, curation, and academia. View all posts by bunkaglobalfashion