The Hand Intelligence Prize rewards excellence in French crafts each year in three categories: “Exceptional Talents” for mastery of a technique, “Dialogue” for collaboration with a designer, and “Course” (intended for a legal entity working for know-how). The awards ceremony for the 2023 edition took place on October 3 in the presence of Laurence des Cars, president of the jury and the Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak.
The “Exceptional Talents” prize was awarded to Pascal Oudet, a wood turner and former engineer based in Goncelin (Isère). His oak sculpture Let the Sun In is emblematic of his work. A true wood lacemaker, he finely chisels the veins of the trunks, letting the light gently shine through. He hopes, with the support of the foundation, to create his pieces from a complete tree.
Lucile Viaud, designer and Aurélia Leblanc, weaver, Dialogues winners of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for the Intelligence of the Hand 2023.
© Julie Limont for the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation
“Dialogue” was attributed to the glass artist Lucile Viaud (from Rennes from the Boulle school) and the textile designer Aurélia Leblanc (trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels in embroidery and printing). Crystalline work is born from the alliance of distinct know-how, creating a unique material. In translucent woven glass, 2 meters long, the piece mimics the fluidity of a fishing net pulled out of the water.
Finally, the “Parcours” category rewarded the Lainamac association, based in Creuse since its creation in 2009. It has developed a practice around local wool, from breeding to crafts taming this material – dyeing. , embroidery, weaving… Lainamac has created a training center and workshops.
Artisan-trainer accompanying a student in the use of a loom, at the Lainamac training center.
© Julie Limont for the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation
The prize helps the winners with significant financial grants: 50,000 euros for each category, to which is added support of up to 150,000 euros for the project. They can also benefit from various assistance for three years: supply of various products, connections, etc.
The Liliane Bettencourt Schueller foundation was created in 1987 by the L’Oréal heiress. She works in the scientific (Impulscience Prize; Liliane Bettencourt Prize for life sciences; ATIP-Avenir program grant) and cultural (Liliane Bettencourt Prize for choral singing) fields.
