Maëlis
Bekkouche
Maëlis is a nomadic artist whose life and work flow as freely as the waters she cherishes. Born and raised along the rugged northern coastline of South West France, where the North Atlantic Ocean crashes against the shore, Maëlis embodies a unique blend of cultures with her Algerian father's heritage.
From an early age, Maëlis felt a profound connection to water, often feeling more akin to a fish than a human. This affinity has shaped her journey, drawing her to locations surrounded by oceans and rivers, preferably both. Water has become not just her element, but an integral part of her creative process and personal healing journey.
Maëlis's art transcends traditional boundaries, seamlessly blending sculptural jewelry, land art, and performance. Her unique approach involves using recycled fish scales collected from local mongers, alongside materials such as wax, silver, bones, textiles, and found objects like animal parts, sand, oil, and soil.
Her devotion to sacred waters manifests in her work as a form of water activism. Through her art, Maëlis celebrates rituals and recycles fish, aiming to raise awareness about our relationship with water - both around and within us. Her sculptural jewelry pieces serve a dual purpose: as personal protection and as a means to share her gifts with the world.
"I know and feel I am water, I am fluid and I can adjust," Maëlis reflects. "I am the container of it, of my soul and wisdom. All the teachings and learnings are already within me, and water reflects all this back at me. Water heals, water is my home, water regenerates and water makes me grow and expand. "This profound connection to water infuses every aspect of her creative process. Maëlis uses water in all its forms, viewing it as an essential component in the cycles of life-death-life that inform her work.
We had the pleasure of meeting Maëlis at our store 'Studio Isla' in Deia, Mallorca, where she introduced her sculptural jewelry pieces. Her visit to the island this summer allowed us to showcase her unique creations at the store. Maëlis's presence and her art serve as a powerful reminder of our intrinsic connection to water and the natural world. Her work invites us to reflect on our relationship with the elements that surround and sustain us, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the fluidity and adaptability of life itself.
During our time together, we witnessed Maëlis's natural affinity for water. She embodied the fluidity of her art, wearing our Nara Top in White Linen, the Piedra Heavy Linen Scrunchie Top, and matching Piedra Heavy Linen Judo Pants near the water's edge. Later, as she entered the water wearing our Flame Silk Ava Dress, we saw her transform, reminiscent of the fish she so closely identifies with.
