With this metal hat sculpture, I wanted to transform an everyday object into an artistic presence, between elegance and material.
A familiar object turned sculpture
In Chapeau, I start from a simple and universal form: the hat. An object linked to the body, identity, and how we present ourselves to the world. By transforming it into a sculpture, I aim to free it from its function to reveal its aesthetic dimension.
The hat then becomes an independent form. It is no longer worn but observed. It evokes a human presence without showing it directly, like a trace, an absent but suggested silhouette.
Metal lace: between material and lightness
The sculpture is made with metal lace, by melting steel and bronze drop by drop. This technique creates an openwork structure that gives the hat a sense of lightness while maintaining the metal's strength.
The bronze flowers accentuate the form and add a decorative and organic dimension. Light passes through the material and transforms the object depending on the viewing angle, revealing volume, void, and details in turn. The sculpture can be placed or hung, reinforcing its connection between object and artwork.
