Thierry Emond (1963) - Souffle Bronze cuivré

The work “Breath” by Thierry Emond, a unique piece measuring 45x13x15 cm, is a powerful meditation on dynamics and balance, playing on the paradox between raw matter and the lightness of movement. Made in patinated zinc, the sculpture exploits the intrinsic duality of this metal. The artist handles the zinc sheet to transform it into volumes that may appear massive, lending the work a tangible robustness, magnified by the dark patina. This waxed finish acts as a protective barrier while enhancing the reliefs and the chromatic richness of the surface.

Yet, far from being static, “Breath” seems animated by kinetic energy. The dynamic assembly of suspended rectangular plates creates an illusion of rupture and aerial lightness. Each metallic plane seems to have been seized in the very moment when an invisible force, whether a gust of wind or simply the passage of time, would have blown it off its axis. The whole is held in a precarious and fascinating balance, transforming the metal, at once resistant and malleable, into a vivid and dynamic artistic gesture.

It is in this improbable suspension, where the metal’s resistance is put at the service of an airy and organic composition, that lies the poetic force of “Breath”: a work of art that materializes the immaterial—the movement and balance—with the density and elegance of zinc.

Thierry Emond, known by the artistic name ITI Atelier, is a French sculptor and artisan of art born in 1963. This self-taught artist has developed technical mastery of traditional materials such as copper, lead, tin, and wood. His work is distinguished by a particular focus on zinc. This singular metal, the third transition metal most elaborated by humans after iron and copper, represents to him a unique field of expression. Thierry Emond explores the force and mechanical resistance inherent to zinc, transforming its apparent solidity into real malleability. Through sophisticated methods of shaping and assembling, he manages to give life and dynamism to this material, sculpting it first into sheets and then into volumes with a massive aesthetic.

ITI Atelier’s artistic approach is anchored in a childhood passion for the design and fabrication of objects. Each creation stages his inspirations, reflecting a marked taste for technical challenge and the material’s demanding nature. The artist excels in the art of transforming raw matter into a work, sometimes by intervening to restore and reclaim their power to artworks at risk.

In the intimacy of his studio, each piece is crafted by hand, making his sculpture a subtle marriage of technical rigor, artistic elegance, and exceptional craftsmanship.