by artist Elodie Feugeade
Artist Statement: At first glance, the sculpture seems straightforward: a beaver, decked out in the tricolor of France—blue, white, and red—alongside the outline of the Eiffel Tower. It’s almost predictable, a familiar sight. It plays with national symbols, seemingly begging for a quick reading. Yet, that initial impression is just the beginning. As you get a step closer, there is more to unfold. The colour and lines grow more complex, and the drawings reveal more subtle details: pieces of history, architecture and cultural heritage. The beaver, a builder by nature, becomes here the guardian of a collective memory, a silent artisan assembling the layers of time. The work invites us to rethink the simple cliché of a beret and baguette in order to explore the many facets of France. Every detail reveals a part of what makes up French identity.
Artist Bio: As a painter specializing in custom work and airbrushing, I have over 15 years of experience in custom painting. Originally trained as an automotive painter, I turned towards airbrushing, with the goal of combining these techniques and skills and applying them to a more creative field: customizing all types of surfaces. Passionate about the automotive world from a young age, I began my career in France, where I painted helmets for motorsport drivers. Later, I decided to move to Canada, where I began painting bicycles.
Over the years, I have painted hundreds of helmets for drivers competing in high levels, including F1, WEC, and IMSA, as well as bicycles for athletes at the Olympics. My work is not limited to helmets and bicycles. I customize all types of object, tailoring each creation to the identity, history, and colours of the customer.
Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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