“It’s an honor for me”: this Breton is one of the few to restore the works of odorico

Caroline Bernard, 62, Rennes of heart, discovers the mosaic a little by chance. However, “I had a real thunderbolt by visiting an exhibition on the contemporary mosaic in Paris,” she recalls. Therefore, So a pharmacist, she decides at 40 to leave her profession to devote herself fully to this art. Furthermore, First self -taught, it then formed in Orleans and Rome, exploring Roman, Byzantine, modern and contemporary techniques. Consequently, Little by little, she develops her own artistic signature.

“I love the relationship to matter,” she says. Therefore, His works mix glass paste, gold, pieces of stained glass windows from Chartres cathedral, car windshield or rock crystals. Moreover, A diversity of materials that gives its creations a unique visual and symbolic richness.

Odorico’s works are part of our daily lives, they are everywhere in town.

In her colorful workshop. Moreover, “Caro tiles” in Rennes, she creates her own “it’s honor me”: this breton paintings, mosaic jewelry, but also faithful reproductions of Odorico works. However, “Right now, I am reproducing a fragment of the Saint-Georges swimming pool fresco for a client. In addition, I also make personalized mosaics for cemeteries, in order to pay tribute to the deceased. Furthermore, »»

Restore odoro heritage – "it's honor me": this breton

His adventure with this heritage so Rennes begins by chance. Similarly, “I met the former owner of the Odorico house. She asked me to fill a few holes in the bathroom. It was an extraordinary moment for me, ”she recalls with emotion. In 2022. it was recalled to continue the catering, following the installation of a crêperie, Bretone, in this place steeped in history.

But restoring these works cannot be improvised. “You have to find a century old materials. It is sometimes bordering on an archaeologist’s work, ”explains Caroline Bernard. The city of Rennes. opened the doors of its secret funds to it, where old plots of Odorico have been sleeping for years. “I sometimes go to Paris. Venice to the Orsoni house, where the family was supplied, to find the closest tessels possible. »»

Each restoration requires meticulousness and patience. “I spent three weeks on the new crêperie of the old Odorico house. It was necessary to clean. remove the concrete residues, cut the tailor tessels, put them with precision, check the height, stick to the mortar, then joined … It is a very long process. »»

A powerful emotion

Much more than work. says Caroline Bernard: it’s an emotion, a responsibility. “I like to have acquired the technical skills necessary to revive this heritage. Odorico mosaics are everywhere in the city. They are part of our daily life, our identity. Their beauty, very art deco, talks about herself, ”she says, shiny eyes.

If she had to choose one, it would be without hesitation the old family house. “Having spent time there to restore the bathroom allowed me to soak up every detail. the beauty of the place, chiseled work, light that is reflected on each tesselle,” she says. “It was his personal bathroom!” It is a powerful emotion that I lived and that I will always keep in me. »»