NES - Abstract 2

Abstract 2

40x40x1.5 cm
Technique: acrylic on canvas
Year 2026
Artist: NES
Signed bottom right
Unique work
Excellent condition, new
Canvas on stretched frame (delivered with the canvas on the frame)
Painted edges
Varnished

Delivered with invoice and certificate of authenticity.

The piece will be carefully packaged and shipped by Colissimo and insured with tracking.

Artistic approach

This work is part of a plastic approach where material, gesture and structure dialogue in a balance between tension and spontaneity.

rooted in a practice originally sculptural, this work transposes to a flat surface a constructed approach to volume and matter. The compositions develop through successive layers, blending controlled interventions and more instinctive gestures, close to controlled accident.

The palette, intentionally contrasted, oscillates between dark masses, light zones and colored accents, creating a circulation of the eye and visual depth. Textures, superpositions and traces left by the gesture contribute to a plastic script where each layer preserves the memory of the creation process.

Between gestural abstraction and more architectural construction, this work offers a multi-level reading: an immediate, dynamic perception, followed by a slower exploration of details, rhythms and internal tensions.

This work participates in a search for balance between strength and fragility, control and letting go, inviting the viewer to a sensitive and immersive experience.

Background

Nes is a designer from Bordeaux living in the Médoc. She was born in 1979. A metal designer, she creates sculptures and furniture from reclaimed metal pieces. Her work has a strong presence, a clear identity drawing from a baroque universe and heavily inspired by punk iconography.

Very early she oriented toward artistic creation. It was in 2003, while finishing her university studies with a degree in Applied Foreign Languages, that she discovered metalworking during a trip to Cuba. This discovery, which she experienced as a true revelation, led her to redirect her studies. She completed a qualifying training in metallurgy at IFIP in 2004 and then a 2006 specialization as an industrial and space-oriented welding technician. While continuing to explore contemporary artistic creation autodidactically, she completed her training by becoming a qualified pyrotechnician in 2008.

Her works quickly caught the art world’s attention, establishing a strong singularity and earning several articles in the press (see press kit). In 2007, she won a Young Challenge, a program set up by the Ministry of Youth. For her it was a true catalyst propelling her toward professionalism. From then on, she was frequently sought after at regional, national and international levels. In 2009 she represented France at the International Francophone Games and exhibited at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut. In 2010, she was invited to UNESCO in Paris where she presented her work in an individual exhibition. As a national laureate of the Envie d’Agir program, she received the 2nd prize in cultural creation, awarded by the High Commissioner for Youth. At the regional level in Aquitaine and Charente, she received the 2nd prize for Art Design from Rotary District 1690. Drouot valuation during the public auction “Young Contemporary Creation” (March 22, 2014, Hôtel Drouot, Paris).

Artistic approach

“At 5 years old, I visited with my parents the torture museum of the Inquisition in Santillana del Mar. The capacity of human beings to make others suffer horrified and fascinated me at the same time. I was frightened by the ingenuity with which man has shown to develop so much monstrosity. My work transcends this monstrosity by an appearance of gentleness that hides what humanity can have of violence in it. I want to show the dark side of humanity, the human experience of suffering, the ability of man to hide the part of horror he hides deep inside himself, in order to highlight the passage from shadow to light.”

By freeing her gesture, Nes reveals through her sculptures a baroque and poetic universe. She draws on the strength of metal to bring the spectator into her world of arabesques, curves and chains. Power in the material, fragility in the airy shapes born from a complex imagination. From darkness to light, from chain to lace of steel…

A baroque universe, another more playful one, both converge in the same goal: giving a soul back to forgotten industrial elements. Playing with appearances, shadows, light and contrasts, treating hostile materials until guiding them artistically toward softness and lightness. Her artistic signature, expressed through the use of chains from chainsaws, earned her the nickname in the press as the “iron lace-maker.” Ambiguity between form and matter, subtlety of the plastic language, misappropriation of materials.

“The questions that move me: how to show discernment and live in society while considering that everyone can have a share of monstrosity within them? What are the limits of humanity’s extreme behaviors? How to detach from daily reality, the illusions of our perception to ease this suffering, to stop hiding this dark part of ourselves? How to free oneself from prejudices and challenge appearances? How to live with this dark side of the soul? Meditate, accept, deny, rebel, renounce?”

By liberating her gesture, Nes reveals through her sculptures a baroque and poetic universe. She draws on the strength of metal to lead the viewer into her world of arabesques, curves and chains. Power in the material, fragility in the airy forms born from a complex imagination. From darkness to light, from chain to lace of steel…

An universe baroque, another more playful, both converge toward the same objective: to give back a soul to forgotten industrial elements. Playing with appearances, shadows, light and contrasts, working with hostile materials until artistically guiding them toward sweetness and lightness. Her artistic signature, expressed through the use of chains from chainsaws, led to the nickname by the press as the “iron lacer.” Ambivalence between form and matter, subtlety of plastic language, misappropriation of materials.

The questions that drive me: how to show discernment and live in society considering that each person can have a part of monstrosity in them? What are the limits of extreme human behaviors? How to detach from daily reality, from the illusions of our perception to ease this suffering, stop concealing this dark part of ourselves? How to free oneself from prejudices and challenge appearances? How to live with this dark side of the soul? Meditate, accept, deny, rebel, renounce?

Exhibitions

Exhibition “Rezonances” for the 500th anniversary of Sainte-Chapelle and artist residency (09/09-06/11/21; residency: 21-25/09/21, Le Trampoline, Vic-le-Comte (63))
Exhibition and selection at the “3rd International Sculpture Competition” of the Biennale Europea d’Arte Fabbrile di Stia (02/09-05/09/21, Stia, Italy)
International symposium “Metal sympozium” and exhibition on the “Metal Trail” (11/06/18-15/06/18, Mlada Boleslav, Central Bohemia, Czech Republic)
Exhibition during the SNBA Fine Arts Salon 2018 (13/12-16/12/18, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris)
Exhibition “Arts du feu” at the H.R GIGER Museum (17/10-23/10/15, Gruyères, Switzerland)
Exhibition Capa Esculturas gallery (12/09-21/10/2014, Madrid, Spain)
Exhibition “Pas à pas” (09/05-09/06/14, Loviegné, Belgium)
Exhibition at the “Feria Internacional del Arte de Granada” (07/05-12/05/12, Churriana de la Vega, Granada, Spain)
Exhibition at “FIARTE 2012” (08/04-20/04/12, Churriana de la Vega, Granada, Spain)
Exhibition at the “Salón internacional de Mujeres Artistas” (06/03-22/03/12, Maracena, Granada, Spain)
Permanent exhibition of the sculpture “Carpe Diem”: private collection of the Riviera Hotel & Beach Lounge (from 14/05/11, Corniche El Manara, P.O.Box: 11-4021 Riad El Solh 1107 2150, Beirut, Lebanon)
Exhibition of fresh works created during the art symposium “Riviera Fusion” (12/05-30/06/11, Riviera Hotel & Beach Lounge, Corniche El Manara, Beirut, Lebanon)
Exhibition and selection at the International Francophonie Games competition. Residency. Intervention in a school in Sidon. (27/09/09-06/10/09, UNESCO Palace Beirut, Lebanon)
Permanent exhibition of the sculpture “Pulsations and Convergences”: private collection of the Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais (from 06/10/09, Beirut, Lebanon)

Public commissions / Public collections

Public commission from the city of Lacanau: monumental sculpture “Fòrga” produced in homage to the heritage site “La Forge” - Permanent exhibition in front of the town hall (07/24, Lacanau (33))
Commission from the Interregional Directorate for Judicial Youth Protection (DIRPJJ) – South-West (Trophies for the “Parcours du goût” -(13.5x17x35 cm-11.5x16x29.5 cm-11.5x14.5x26.5 cm)-(07/23))
Acquisition of the sculpture “La Force d'âme” by the town of Vic-le-Comte and the Departmental Council of Puy-de-Dôme (Le Trampoline, place de l’Olme, Vic-le-Comte (63) (11/13/21))
Acquisition of the sculpture “Thétis” by the Departmental Council of Charente-Maritime (Atrium of the Charente House, La Rochelle (17) (08/20/18))
Acquisition of the sculpture “The Dark Tower” by the town of Aiguillon (47) (12/10/16))
Acquisition of the sculpture “Les Trois Portes” by the Beychac and Cailleau media library/art library (10/05/16))
Public commission: the Soulac-sur-Mer town hall: sculpture created during the urban residency and public performance “Urban Welding Art.” (05/03-12/05/13, Place de la Basilique, Soulac-sur-Mer)
Public commission: UEAJ 33. Practical internship with youths from the Judicial Youth Protection, aimed at social and professional integration (2013, UEAJ 33, Bordeaux)
Public commission: Gironde Departmental Council. Trophies “Mission Agenda 21” (10/15/2012, Gironde Departmental Council, Bordeaux)
Public commission: UEAJ 33: creation of paintings for the training restaurant “le P'tit Creux.” Practical internship with youths from Judicial Youth Protection, aimed at social and professional insertion (05/09-11/05/12; 14-15/16/05/12; 05-06-07-08/06/12; 11-12-13-14-15-18-19/06/12, Listrac-Médoc workshop)
Public commission: Lacanau city hall: 20th anniversary of the twinning with Castrillo de Murcia (04/2012)
Creation of a monumental mission cross (02/2012, Cussac-Médoc town hall (33))
Public commission: creation of a monumental sculpture for the entrance of a media library (Inauguration on 09/10/11, Beychac et Cailleau)
Creation of trophies for the Michelet Challenge. Practical internship with youths from Judicial Youth Protection, aimed at social and professional insertion. (2010/2011, UEAJ 33)
Creation of sculptures for the school parking lot. Project with the participation of children. (2009, Avensan town hall (33))