Claude Morlot’s sculptures turn stone into a surprisingly fluid medium. Emphasizing sinuous curves and smooth surfaces, his works give their material a refined aura that combines with a feel for movement and texture to set a distinctive, compelling tone. Morlot says the juxtaposition of rough and smooth in his sculptures is an attempt to capture the contrasts he sees in life. “The themes in my work are related to the natural and human environment,” he says, and one of the strongest aspects of his sculpture is the way in which it brings a feeling of life and spontaneity to materials we usually think of as solid and unmoving.
Born in France, the sculptor has been living in Tahiti for the past 32 years, and the influence of French Polynesia is strong in his work. Another powerful force is that of femininity, whether through depicting the female form or referring to symbols and mythologies related to female energy. With their textural contrasts, expressive use of color and form, and solid sense of line and proportion, Morlot’s sculptures create a world that is complex, multi-layered and thoroughly engaging.
