Growing up in Vaison-la-Romaine, France—a place steeped in echoes of ancient civilizations—I was surrounded by reminders of the past that continually shaped my imagination. This small town in Provence, celebrated for its remarkably preserved Roman ruins and medieval high town, is where my fascination with history, mythology, and architecture began.
Once called Vasio Vocontiorum, Vaison-la-Romaine was a bustling Roman settlement and the capital of the Vocontii. In the lower town, you find the sprawling remains of Roman civilization: mosaics, columns, statues, thermal baths, a bridge, and the remnants of an imposing theater. These ruins are so embedded in the landscape that they become part of daily life, blending past and present in a way that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who visits.
Perched on a hill above, the upper town feels like an entirely different world—a labyrinth of cobbled streets leading to an ancient castle and a cathedral looming over the valley below. The high town has always felt like a portal to another time, where stone walls and narrow streets create an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue.
These two distinct periods—Roman antiquity and the medieval era—imbued my childhood with a fascination for artifacts, relics, and remnants from ages past. The solemn beauty of those stone structures captivated me, drawing me into labyrinths and mazes that seemed to wind through hidden realms. As a child, I would spend hours designing intricate mazes, imagining stories set within those ancient stones.
This fascination with ancient structures, artifacts, and mythologies became a cornerstone of my artistic vision. In retrospect, these experiences weren’t just formative—they were foundational, creating a lens through which I explore the intersections of history, memory, and art. They taught me that artifacts and architecture carry an essence, a story that goes beyond the tangible.
Today, my work in Kura Curiosa reflects the impact of these early influences. The modular structures and interactive elements I create are, in many ways, modern explorations of fictional ancient worlds. Just as Vaison’s ruins invite visitors to explore, imagine, and uncover layers of meaning, Kura Curiosa aims to open new dimensions for audiences to engage with art, history, and technology. These early inspirations continue to guide me, blending echoes of the ancient world with the possibilities of the future.
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The image illustrating this post is a funeral stone shaped like a Roman tragic mask, one of many fascinating steles displayed at the museum in Vaison-la-Romaine. This relic has always captivated me. One day, I plan to create a 3D model of it, and integrate it somehow into my own work. That would be the perfect homage to my hometown's continuous influence.
