N° 8 : MELANIE SCARCIGLIA
“The Publisher”
Mélanie with her genuinely altruistic nature, charismatic persona and striking determination is our eighth portrait.
As co-founder of the acclaimed art book publishing house,Three Star Books, Melanie operates with a fearless ease between world famous artists, notorious collectors and renowned museum curators and art galleries, dedicated to bringing to light her passion for her artist’s books.
Three Star books, founded in 2007 with her partner in life, the illustrious Christophe Boutin, is publishing artist’s books in limited editions with the finest contemporary artists, such as Maurizio Cattelan, John Baldessari, Sylvie Fleury and Cyprien Gaillard just to mention a few. Together, they are providing books in multiple forms that are artworks themselves – from handmade and lusciously tactile to abstract, sculptural and monumental.
A wildly varied collection of inventive and spectacular work that challenges expectations. Publications that strike a perfect balance between experimental ways of book-making, respect of the content and attention to printing quality and sometimes also a powerful study between two and three dimensional forms.
As Francis bacon said in his essays :
“Books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”
Three Star books are definitely to be chewed and digested !
Based in Paris, where they have their office and studio, which doubles as an exhibition space, Mélanie and Christophe are also involved in numerous art fairs and workshops around the world.
What is your most outstanding character trait ?
Tenacity
What is your idea of perfect happiness ?
Holidays in Umbria with my family and friends
What is the most extravagant thing you have ever done ?
A dinner at Cartet
Which talent would you most like to have ?
Play the piano
Which living person do you most admire ?
My genius husband
Who are your favorite heroes/heroines in fiction ?
Emma in Amore by Luca Guadagnino
Who are your favorite writers ?
Currently, Simone de Beauvoir, Elena Ferrante and James Baldwin
What do you consider is your greatest achievements ?
My daughter, Isolde
In which imaginary country would you like to live ?
In paradise
What do you regret the most ?
None
Which flower would you like to be ?
Mimosa flower
Who are your favorite artists ?
These days, Josef and Anni Albers
Which bird would you like to be ?
A hummingbird because it goes very very fast and it’s the only one that can fly backwards
What is your greatest fear ?
The depression
What is your most treasured possession ?
Ideas
What is your favorite occupation ?
To cook
What would you change if you could ?
I will abolish capitalism
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be ?
A flower
What is your current state of mind ?
To regret nothing
What is your favourite motto ?
” What does not kill you makes you stronger. “
Friedrich Nietzsche
