The sculpture of Pascal is a fine example of
the compelling quality of wood. Pascal is a Frenchman who settled in
Santa Fe in 1997. Prior to that time, he had gained a European
reputation as a promising young sculptor. He fielded a series of solo
exhibitions in France and Switzerland, and worked on collaborative
projects with Pierre Cardin and others.
Pascal's career has blossomed in America. He has been awarded several
commissions for large-scale installations. Galleries and collectors
alike have responded to the simplicity of his approach, which balances
geometric abstraction with organic form. There is an undertone of
symbolism as well, a hieroglyphic shorthand that hints at other visual
languages.
Pascal was influenced from a very young age by his grandfather, a wood
sculptor. It was from him that Pascal developed his love for wood and
his passion for working with it. He creates an extraordinary range of
abstract meditations that seem to arise directly from the material
itself, rather than from a conscious plan. He has an extraordinary
rapport with his materials, concocting his own varnishes and resins as
well as creating bronze-like patinas on non-metallic surfaces. He works
with a variety of precious woods and creates sculptures that express the
texture, aroma, and strength of each.
He considers wood to be a feminine material - warm, colorful, full of
surprises, and not always easy to control. Therefore, many of his
sculptures have a feminine cast, with elegantly swelling contours and
subtle curves. Conversely, he sometimes works with more angular,
masculine themes, such as his Fleche (Arrow) series, and the wood
responds with a robust presence.
Pascal's technique is interactive. Each work of art is characterized by a
graceful balance, a meticulous attention to detail. Even as he carves
and burnishes, he allows the piece to guide him. "Wood has its own
intelligence," he says. "It knows many things, and it teaches them to
me. In this way, I understand what I want to do with it, so that the
final image reflects its innate qualities as well as my own thoughts and
feelings."
http://pascalstudio.com
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