Shards of luxury. Sculptures by Laurent Krast

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

It is not known what did not please Laurent Craste porcelain vases, cups and urns, but in his new collection of sculptures, all these things were attacked with knives, axes and other similar objects. And what is most interesting is that none of the porcelain objects were scattered to pieces, as one might expect.

In an interview with Dirty Magazine, Laurent Crust says that he was inspired to create such a collection by numerous acts of vandalism, known to history: “I have always been interested in vandalism, especially those phases that accompany revolutionary uprisings. During these periods, works of art are often destroyed simply because they embody an ideology or symbolize a particular social class. But at the same time, I am fascinated by these destructive impulses and violent nihilistic actions. My works are an attempt to express this duality and, paradoxically, I try to turn the act of destruction into an act of creation."

All sculptures are made by hand, without the use of forms. The reason why fragile items remained intact is quite simple. The author carried out all his manipulations with knives and axes even before the porcelain was sent to the kiln for firing. As a result, the "weapon" does not violate the integrity of the work, but becomes its integral part.

Laurent Crust was born and raised in Orleans (France) and now lives and works in Montreal (Canada). It is interesting that the sculptor began his career in a field very far from art: in 1991 he became a veterinarian, and two years later he improved his knowledge, receiving a master's degree in physiology and anatomy. However, discovering the creativity in himself, the author approached this matter with all seriousness and received another education, becoming a Master of Fine Arts in 2007.