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Louis Durot French Post War Artist Cowrie Shell Sofa Settee Sculpture in Polymer

Name: Louis Durot French Post War Artist Cowrie Shell Sofa Settee Sculpture in Polymer
Brand: Louis Durot
Rating: 5 (12 reviews)

$8,500List Price

About the Item

A late 1970's, post modern or pop art sculptural settee sofa by French artist and scientist Louis Durot (b. 1939). - This is one of two works that I am offering through my 1stdibs storefront, HKFA. Search HKFA on 1stdibs, view my storefront and see the other work by Louis Durot, a L'Echasuffesuse red lip sofa settee sculptural work of art / furniture. - Mr. Durot describes his work, "I explore the abstraction of objects, to create art that provokes thought and curiosity." This is an oversized and stylized cowrie shell sofa settee. The settee is constructed of a polymer / polyurethane foam of Mr. Durot's creation. There is a hard 'shell' on the base that the softer polyurethane sits inside. The white surface exhibits some marks and scuffs. There are a couple small openings on the surface. I believe that this is more of a sculptural work of art rather than a functional piece of furniture - however, it really is quite comfortable. The couple very small tears in the covering allow air to escape and when seated on the cowrie shell, one sinks a bit lower than perhaps was intended. Mr. Durot holds several patents on polymers and polyurethanes. Mr. Durot was born in 1939. He and his family narrowly escaped certain death during World War II. Durot, living in hiding for many years, grew up in France. As a child in 1944 he molded toys for himself and the other children in their village from different shades of clay by the river near his home. From this beginning, Mr. Durot has been creating, sculpting and molding ever since. His school age years earned him a reputation of an 'enfant terrible' and in his own words "In my youth, I had to fight for my survival. In the village where I was hiding, we were kept in a barn with the goats and other livestock. I was very young and malnourished. And everything was a matter of strength. We had very little food, and as I was smaller than some of the other children I always got the last scraps. But when you are starving you have to fight to survive. When I grew up and started to go to school, I became unable to suffer discipline or take orders from anybody. And this is why I could never be employed. I have only been employed for six weeks in my life!" In 1960 Durot enrolled in the Facultie de Sciences to study math. It was in 1963 that Durot became interested in engineering and secured a position with Equipel. It was while employed by Equipel that he began to study organic chemistry. From 1964 through 1972, Durot worked as an engineer and also explored the art world. He collected many friends during this time and formed the Freeland Studio as an artists commune. Mr. Durot describes Freeland, "So the Freeland Studio was based on the principle of gathering artists who were refused by the art world elites. We had artists in jazz, design, theater. It was a collective for expression and freedom in art." Through the relationships and friendships formed in this society, Durot met the artist Cesar and worked with him to help him master the techniques of polyurethane foam - Cesar's famous 'expansions' were borne from this partnership. From 1968 through 1974, Durot began to create three dimensional sculptures - his first in polyurethane foam. In 1971 his works were exhibited at the Salon Batimat in Paris and his vision resulting from this exhibition was to collaborate with architects. Then in 1977, a prank caught up with him - changing his life and artistic trajectory. He was incarcerated. While in prison, Durot took up weightlifting and also designed his next generation of sculptures - the spirals, lips, erotic chairs! It is these sculptures, these works of pop art, these furniture designs for which Durot is most known. Durot describes his organic forms, "My use of organic forms in my work is really a rebellion against the clean lines of the industrial aesthetic." In 1987, Durot exhibited at La Defense, and then at the gallery En Attendant les Barbares. In 1988 he contracted with American Colloid allowing him to freely create. In 1991, Durot exhibited at Salon des Nouvelles Technologies in La Villette. From 1993 through 1995, he exhibited at Art Chicago, Miami, and SOFA in New York. In 1997 he contracted with Soprema and though this position (he is still the research director) he was able to patent his innovations. And since 1998, Louis Durot's work has been on permanent exhibit and display in China where his work has been enthusiastically received. This reception and interest earned him exhibitions at contemporary art fairs in Peking, Shanghai as well as a one man show at the Contemporary Art Museum of China in Canton. He also gave courses at the Fine Arts Academies of Canton and Chun King. French artist Louis Durot is internationally known, loved and collected. Again, in the words of this artist / scientist "I am world known as a polymer scientist, and I work to produce new polymer molecules which are what you call plastics. But throughout my career I have worked freelance as a consultant engineer. And the people I work for have to accept my rules. I cannot work in an office or lab for extended periods, my time is always free for my own experimentation, and I am not pressured to produce reports." Octogenarian artist Louis Durot retains the same reputation earned oh so many years ago!

Creator:
Louis Durot (Artist)
Dimensions:
Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 52 in (132.08 cm)Depth: 37 in (93.98 cm)Seat Height: 19 in (48.26 cm)
Style:
Post-Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Foam,Molded
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Late 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1970's
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. In good vintage condition with age appropriate wear. Some surface grime may be present as well as some scuffs or marks. There are a couple small tears as photographed.
Seller Location:
Atlanta, GA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU7240236343292

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