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Dothy

PORTRAIT DE BRETONNE

Dothy

To accompany our capsule collection in collaboration with Amour Breton, we met with three women to discuss their connection to Brittany.

Three women, three portraits of Breton women, three worlds.

Today, we meet Dothy, an artist from Quiberon.

Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your connection to Brittany?

My name is Dothy; I am an artist and I live in Quiberon, a small peninsula in Morbihan.

I am deeply attached to this little patch of rock because it saw me grow up, but above all because it is my daily muse, my creative wellspring; I owe it the very essence of what has shaped the artist I am today. The bond I have with my Brittany is deep and rooted in who I am, who I am becoming, and what my art has to say. A window opening onto the sea and my heart.

What are your earliest memories of Brittany?

My earliest memories of Brittany are of hunting for little green skulls in the hollows of the rocks, watching the little bumblebees dance amongst Granny Titine’s hollyhocks, pouring salted butter caramel into shells to make lollipops, painting on pebbles and selling them to passers-by from a little van, running as fast as I could through the dunes until I ended up rolling down them... it’s the scents, the colours, the sea, the flowers and the feeling of freedom.

What keeps you in Brittany?

I love travelling; I love discovering new landscapes and new cultures. It’s a treasure to fill one’s heart with new horizons, but the more I travel, the stronger my attachment to Brittany becomes. It’s an almost maternal, visceral bond; it can’t really be explained, it has to be experienced. Every sunset touches my heart; I’ll never tire of living here.

Dothy

Is there a particular place in Brittany you’d like to share, where you feel particularly at home?

My mother’s island, the little island of Houat, is a place where time seems to pass very slowly, peaceful and calm, with the scent of immortelle mingling with the sea mist. There, I feel free from everything, with no obligations or things to do, simply being there and living, finding a spot on the beach to draw, taking the time to observe the rocks, the seaweed, the colours, this living tableau all around me, and capturing it all on a sheet of paper. Brittany offers landscapes that have feeling and character; I think that’s why we grow attached to it, because our hearts beat faster here.

How would you describe the Breton way of life, and how does it influence your daily life and your inspiration?

I live a very simple life; I always start by getting up at sunrise and going for a walk on my own along the wild coastal paths. Since becoming a mum, I’ve come to appreciate this little moment between myself, the sea and the coast even more... I watch the ocean; if there are good waves, I’ll plan my day around the tides so I can go surfing. Surfing is my second passion; I couldn’t live without it. It clears my mind of everything that weighs me down, slows me down or holds me back, and it inspires me so much to create. Living here is a lifestyle choice because you’re inevitably isolated, but I chose it because my life’s balance comes from all those little moments I spend with the sea. If I can’t surf, I often go for a swim, all year round... Not a day goes by without seeing the rocks and the sea mingling.

Dothy

Is Brittany a refuge, a starting point, or a home base for you? 

Brittany is my life, my daily routine, my art, and my whole heart. I don’t live in Brittany; Brittany lives within me.

Dothy
Dothy