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Nicolas Lefebvre
Objets Montés -
Nicolas Lefebvre (b. 1982, Paris) is a contemporary French artist living and working in Paris. Lefebvre studied Art History at the École du Louvre and has exhibited extensively in France. Lefebvre's constantly evolving work now embraces new forms: monumentality, in-situ, scenography, illustration and photography.Inspired by the Arte Povera movement, Lefebvre uses materials beyond traditional oil paint on canvas, bronze, or carved marble. The artist’s work consists of combining objects from different materials, cultures and time periods in order to create new artworks which celebrate our global common roots. His eclectic 'ready-mades’ are heavily inspired by the Surrealists and Dadaists such as Marcel Duchamp.
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Objets Montés draws on the Middle Age phenomenon of ‘mounted objects,’ whereby antique and precious items were assembled together to enhance them, protect them or give them a new function. In the Renaissance, natural products such as ostrich eggs, shells, coconuts and horns were decorated with precious mounts in order to adorn cabinets of curiosities. In the 19th century, mounted objects began to comprise of Chinese or Japanese porcelains decorated with masterfully gilded bronze.In the same spirit of combining different materials and objects to create new pieces, Lefebvre creates new contemporary artworks.
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Lefebvre started travelling from a young age and it was on a trip to Africa that the artist discovered the magic of local handmade artefacts.
"I grew up in a classic world, surrounded by old furniture and paintings. I have been lucky enough to work with atypical antique dealers with eclectic tastes, such as Axel Vervoordt, Jacques Lacoste, Jacques Delbos. I won my spurs with Maitre Binoche, who enabled me to be next to the most beautiful objects of primary arts. I like to stage my places, so every detail is important. I am very sensitive to the scenography around me."
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"My work consists in gathering old objects, to make materials, cultures and times communicate to celebrate our common roots. I find my inspiration in travelling, in the primary arts, in the objects that talk to me, in nature, in the seaside, and in collective memory.My approach is very intuitive, very naive: the objects in my collection have been inspired to come together. Even if my work can echo anthropology - I work with researchers - the objects have a universal side, whether they are Western or Eastern, from 2,000 years ago or today.”
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" Bronze, fibers, wood, terracotta and bones. These ancient materials and symbols represent our civilizations talking together. It’s the elements of the past that have built our humanity, universal symbols of our collective unconsciousness."
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"Since the begining of my artistic creation, I have been guided by the figure of the ansate cross, the mother goddess, the protective and kindly deity, thanks to which I explore every aspect of creative magic. It’s a universal symbol of love and feminity which gives me a lot of possibilities to play with shapes, materials, colors and sizes. It’s a trinity of objects, an equation of forms - cross and circle on a base - which inspires me a lot and celebrates our common roots."
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"Globe is a special edition I made for an award prize in 2018. I did it in Morocco with objects that I found and created there : a piece of Tuareg wood and a wax circle that I cast there. "
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Objets Montés
Solo Exhibition at Tristan Hoare Gallery, London, 2022 -
"It was very interesting for me to exhibit my work in a historical place like a Georgian town house from 1790s. It creates a conversation between the works and the place, between ancient materials steeped in history."
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Available works
Nicolas Lefebvre : Objets Montés
Past viewing_room
