Lots of people visit flea markets looking for nice objects like a vase or painting. But there’s also a person that visits them and looks for objects that consist of multiple small parts. For instance a typewriter, clock or old bicycle. His name is Edouard Martinet and he’s the creator of the amazing sculptures you see in these photos.
Butterfly. 25″ x 14″ x 22″ H. Legs: bike brake parts, pieces of windshield wipers, bike chains / Abdomen: old acetylene light tank / Thorax: car suspension part, small spoon parts, cream chargers / Head: headlights, bike parts / Butterfly trunk: clock springs / Hair: pieces of a typewriter daisy wheel / Antennae: brake cables, drawer knobs. Photos © Sladmore Contemporary
It’s just incredible and stunning to see so much detail in these insect, fish and animal forms. Edouard Martinet lives in Brittany, France, studied design at L’Ecole Superieure des Arts Graphiques Architecture, one of the ‘grandes ecoles’ in Paris, elite academies reserved for the most gifted students.
Chance to see these sculptures up close
I think the best way to appreciate his work is to see his work up close. Edouard Martinet opened a new exhibition at Sladmore Contemporary in London, November 27 through January 31, 2014. On his website you can see his pieces from the exhibition and older pieces.
Wasp. (Glass only : 8″ cm diameter X 19″ H) (Total : 9″ X 13″ X 31″ H) Abdomen : steel tips for boots, bike headlights / Thorax and head : steel tips and bells from bikes and typewriters / Eyes : vintage watch case / Antennae : spectacles arms / Legs : bike brakes , bike chain , spoon handles / Wings : glass. Photo © Sladmore Contemporary
According to Gerry Farrell, Director of Sladmore Contemporary: “His degree of virtuosity is unique: he does not solder or weld parts. His sculptures are screwed together. This gives his forms an extra level of visual richness – but not in a way that merely conveys the dry precision of, say, a watchmaker. There is an X-Factor here, a graceful wit, a re-imagining of the obvious in which a beautifully finished object glows not with perfection, but with character, with new life. Martinet takes about a month to make a sculpture and will often work on two or three pieces at the same time. It took him just four weeks to make his first sculpture and 17 years for his most recent completion!”
Leaves me to say that normally I don’t really enjoy insects, but when I saw these sculptures I could only admire them. They are so elegant.
Design by Edouard Martinet | Exhibition at Sladmore Contemporary
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