When Edouard Martinet was 10, one of his teachers introduced his pupils to insects. Subliminally, the fascination sunk in to the young French boy. Fast-forward 40 years, and Martinet has become the art world’s virtuoso insectophile, transforming bits and pieces of cast-off junk culled from flea markets and car boot sales into exquisitely executed insect, fish and animal forms.
What sets Martinet’s work apart is the brilliant formal clarity of his sculptures, and their extraordinary elegance of articulation. 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.
Edouard lives in Brittany, France and studied design at the prestigious L’Ecole Superieure des Arts Graphiques in Paris. 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! His next show at the Sladmore Contemporary will be from November 27 – January 31, 2014.
Sladmore Contemporary
32 Bruton Place, Off Berkeley Square
London W1J 6NW United Kingdom
Ph. + 44 (0)20 74990365
info@sladmore.com
http://www.sladmore.com
Opening hours
Monday – Thursday from 10am to 6pm
Friday from 10am to 5pm or by appointment
[via Colossal]
1. Wasp
28 X 16 X 40h cm
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
2. Fish III
3. Bird
44 X 16 X 25 H cm
Beak: autoscope
Head : two seed scoops
Eyes : ornaments for bike lights
Wings : Petrol tank plates of 40s and 50s motorcycle Monet-Goyon and Khoeler-Escoffier , bike chain guards
Tail : bike chain guards
Body : children’s tricycle fender Legs : springs , pieces of costume jewellery
4. Butterfly
63 X36 X 57 H cm
Wings : moped chain guards
Legs : bike brake parts , pieces of winshield 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 daisy wheel
Antennae : brake cables, on the top : drawer knobs
5. Grasshopper
6. Dragonfly
95 X 125 X 38 H cm
Abdomen : patinated copper/brass bicycle pump, car horn part, parts of old acetylene bike lights ( at the ends)
Thorax : two motorbike rear lights , shell-shaped drawer handles, big upholstery tacks
Head : car or lorry old stop lights, parts of acetylene bike lights, parts of a daisy wheel for typewriter ( hair from the mouth)
Legs : tubes, bike cable guide, wing nuts, wire
Wings : umbrella ribs, wire, wire netting for hen coops
7. Toad
8. Blue and Yellow Beetle
9. Moth
78 X 42 X 17 H cm
Wings : moped chain guards ( rusted and patinated)
Abdomen : motorbike headlights
Thorax : very old car headlamp
Legs : large upholstery tacks , car boot hinges, pieces of windshield wipers, bike brake parts, chain guards
Head : old rear position lamps , bike parts, pieces of a daisy wheel
Butterfly trunk : clock springs
Antennae : aluminium heating resistor
10. Praying Mantis
11. Red Ant
65 x 42 x 22 cm
Thorax and head : sauce spoons, car parts
Eyes : marbles
Abdomen : bike or motorbike headlights
Antennae : small bike chains
Legs : cream chargers , brake parts , chains, alarm clock feet , spoon handles
12. Green Beetle
13. Falcon
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