The diptyque questionnaire was based on the one completed by Marcel Proust which had become popular and out of the 34 questions, the diptyque partner answering them will choose which they wish to share on memento.

“Julien Colombier is a painter of the universal movement his patterns belonging to the vegetal world as well as to abstract mineral geometry. These elements dance between shadow and light revealed by pure color on paper, thick concrete walls, delicate textiles. It’s this diversity that has seduced famous luxury houses for wonderful collaborations and also the public at his private exhibitions – this shifting world conducing to dreaming” – these are the words the artist likes to present his work with and his approach as a painter. Julien Colombier has decorated the windows of the boutique 34 boulevard Saint-Germain with the same patterns that he has drawn for the cases of the three candles special edition of this winter, which perfumes are extracted from tree essences and resins, mainly the Fir tree, the Liquidambar and the Olibanum.

2. What period of human history – a “distant country” wrote Racine – would you like to visit as an invisible tourist?
Antiquity – although I wouldn’t mind visiting Europe at the end of the 19th or the beginning of 20th centuries just to see the Viennese artists’ workshops or the arrival of Fauvism.

3. Your favourite food?
The list would be too long.

4. Your favourite scent?
(Audrey’s) skin.

5. Your Proust madeleine?
The smell of winter.

6. If you were a musical instrument what would you be?
A trumpet as it’s more unpredictable.

7. The most moving animal in your opinion?
No animal can compete with the cat.

8. Synesthesia – do you have sensorial associations of shape, colour, scent and sound?
Yes, everyday even if I only record it through images.

9. What quality do you have that was turned against you?
I hesitate between intelligence and modesty.

10. And which failing did you gain most from?
Laziness.

11. To be absolutely yourself, should we completely forget ourselves?
Which one is the hardest to do?

12. What are you thinking about?
I wonder who wrote these questions.

13. What activity captures your concentration so much that you can no longer think?
To fill a great flat area of colour with a very small piece of chalk.

14. The book that opened your eyes to the world?#1
Ubik by Philip. K. Dick but that was a long time ago.

15. The music that’s for you an echo of a lost paradise?
There are certain songs that fit well with this definition, such as I Heard It Through The Grape-vine by Marvin Gaye for instance.

16. Three important films?
Lost Highway, Blade Runner, Wrong Cops

18. Which sculptor and sculpture would you choose for your imaginary museum?
A column of Brancusi, as white as possible.

19. Which famous or unknown contemporaries do you believe make the world a better place?
David Hockney, Jeroen Erosie and David Bowie.

20. Which characters, past or present, real or fictional, inspire you?
Rapper MF Doom, as fictional as real.
 
22. If you could offer a bouquet of flowers to a bird, what flowers for what bird?
If some people already answered that question, I would like to see their answers.

23. Is it that bad not to be loved, as long as you love?
No, not that bad at least every second day.

24. What place do you escape to?
Empty skate parks.

26. Do you have a motto in your job that you use as a compass and lantern?
If it wasn’t you who did it, would that interest you? Then how long?

29. If you were to talk about your job to young talented people what would say as encouragement?
I would not encourage anyone to have my job but if young talented people listened to me, it would mean they already want to do it.

30. What is craftwork in modern times?
A know-how that works even when wifi doesn’t.

31. According to you and setting economic or social status issues aside, how can rare productions of noble quality be beneficial today?
They can bring a sensation of pleasure, even of fullness whereas we are surrounded with ob-jects programmed to be defective or quickly replaced. It’s too bad that access to them depends on economic and social issues.

32. The genie in the lamp offers you three wishes, what would they be?
Thank you!

33. And what would your favourite diptyque scent be (perfume or candles)?
It exists, it’s Gingembre.

34. For you, diptyque in a nutshell?
Classic, creative and luxurious.