Gentle, fragrant soaps for daily use
At first glance, pairing a traditional soap-making workshop like La Corvette with a contemporary artist might seem surprising. Yet the collaboration with Frédérique Nalbandian feels quite natural once you consider their shared approach to materials.
Frédérique Nalbandian has long worked with Marseille soap, which she completely reimagines beyond its usual purpose. She does not seek to turn it into a static or decorative object, but rather to explore its ever-changing nature: it can melt, break apart, lather, and evolve over time. Her works are not static; they are alive, sometimes even through audience interaction.
For its part, La Corvette embodies a long-standing tradition of craftsmanship, rooted in authentic manufacturing methods and simple ingredients. There, soap is seen as a reliable, practical product that is an integral part of everyday life. It is precisely this apparent contrast that makes the collaboration so interesting.
The two approaches share a common focus: a close attention to the raw material. While the brand emphasizes the soap’s quality and natural properties, the artist reveals its physical characteristics and unexpected possibilities. She does not transform the soap into something else; she simply pushes its characteristics to their limits.
It is also hard to overlook their shared Mediterranean roots. Between Menton, Ventimiglia, and Turin, Frédérique Nalbandian operates in a region close to where Marseille soap has traditionally been produced. This proximity reinforces the idea of a natural, almost inevitable partnership.
Ultimately, this collaboration does not seek to turn soap into a luxury item or a mere artistic medium. Rather, it demonstrates that an everyday product can offer a broader perspective on time, use, and transformation—provided we view it in a different light.
Feel free to check out Frédérique’s website and Instagram to discover her work and her creative world.
Documents d’artistes, a leading website managed by the Ministry of Culture featuring contemporary artists by region in France: https://www.documentsdartistes.org/artistes/nalbandian/repro.html
