Year of creation: 2021
Dimensions: 52 x 29 x 19 cm
Materials: Self-hardening clay, metal (support), wood (base), white patina
This sculpture was created in 2021 using a self-hardening clay. I wanted to capture a suspended moment: the moment when a swan takes off, wings barely raised, body still taut on the surface.It was a real challenge to work on such a dynamic form with no internal metal framework and a fragile material. I modeled the piece in a vacuum, suspended from a removable central rod, which enabled me to avoid crushing the body during drying.
The modeling was carried out in a single session, to maintain momentum. The plumage is suggested rather than described, so as not to weigh the form down. The lightly shaded white patina reinforces the idea of a swan that is both real and dreamlike.
The wooden base is unobtrusive: a metal rod runs through the swan's body and is securely fastened to it. The anchoring point, concealed beneath the tail, reinforces the illusion of motionless flight.
