The art of Edouard Martinet

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A couple of gorgeous pieces by French sculptor Edouard Martinet who creates insects and other animals from car and motorcycle parts, kitchen utensils, old typewriters and similar detritus. These are so good I’m surprised his work hasn’t already done the rounds of all the sites which favour this kind of sculpture. I covet that mantis. Photos by Ian Sanderson.

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Previously on { feuilleton }
Geoffrey Haberman’s brass insects
Kitchen insects
Elizabeth Goluch’s precious metal insects
The art of Sergei Aparin

The art of Ron Rodgers

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Century of Progress.

While the web has given many artists a visibility they wouldn’t have had in the past, too many artists’ sites are blighted by the dreaded “Artist’s statement” in which people who express themselves visually are forced to try and articulate for the paying customers what it is they’re doing with all this art stuff. Nowhere will you find anyone saying “I don’t know what I’m doing” or “I do this because I’m compelled to but don’t know why” or even “I do this to make a living”. All too often what you get is a rifle through the favourite jargon phrases of the social sciences where the polysyllabic words seem important but are as worn out and redundant as any of the examples George Orwell complained about sixty years ago in ‘Politics and the English Language‘.

All of which is a very long-winded and polemical way of saying I loved Ron Rodgers’ artist’s statement:

“That’s what his stare has been saying to me all this time:
‘At least I galloped – when did you?'”
– Peter Shaffer, from “Equus”

Here’s hoping more artists follow his example. There’s more of his art at the Glass Garage Gallery. Via Monsieur Thombeau who has a knack for finding good things.

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Phoenix.

Previously on { feuilleton }
Geoffrey Haberman’s brass insects
The art of Arnaldo Pomodoro
The art of Sergei Aparin
Sculptural collage: Eduardo Paolozzi
The art of Igor Mitoraj

William Burroughs’s Stuff

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Some of it, anyway. This bullet grasshopper was owned by William Burroughs and photographed by Peter Ross as part of a series presenting some of the writer’s possessions. No clues as to who constructed this but I like the way it combines two of Burroughs’ persistent interests, insects and weapons. Via Coudal.

Previously on { feuilleton }
Jewelled butterflies and cephalopods
William S Burroughs: A Man Within
Geoffrey Haberman’s brass insects
Elizabeth Goluch’s precious metal insects
Kelly McCallum’s insect art
The art of Jo Whaley
The art of Philippe Wolfers, 1858–1929
Lalique’s dragonflies
Lucien Gaillard

Jewelled butterflies and cephalopods

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Above: gold, silver & enamel butterfly and squid, both by John Paul Miller. More at this Flickr page.

Below: Tintenfisch und Schmetterling (Octopus and Butterfly; 1900) by Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach, a master jeweller who liked his octopuses.

Tips by Chateau Thombeau and Fine & Dandy (NSFW).

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Previously on { feuilleton }
Geoffrey Haberman’s brass insects
Elizabeth Goluch’s precious metal insects
Kelly McCallum’s insect art
The art of Jo Whaley
The art of Philippe Wolfers, 1858–1929
Lalique’s dragonflies
Lucien Gaillard

Geoffrey Haberman’s brass insects

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Blepharopsis mendica nymph.

More insect art and some really gorgeous creations. Geoffrey Haberman also makes silver insects but I much prefer the brass ones. From four pages of Flickr photos including an incredible mantis horde.

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Idolomantis diabolica adult male.

Previously on { feuilleton }
Sipho Mabona’s origami insects
Kitchen insects
Elizabeth Goluch’s precious metal insects
Laura Zindel’s ceramics
The art of Philippe Wolfers, 1858–1929
Robert Lang’s origami insects
Lalique’s dragonflies
Lucien Gaillard