From a variety of natural colors of clay, Léonore Chastagner sculpts tender representations of the human form. She details the wrinkles on one’s knuckles, the creases in a pair of denim jeans, and the intricate layers of a loosely folded T-shirt.
“I use clay as one uses a diary: to record the feelings of daily life and the things that surround me,” Chastagner tells Colossal. “I take interest in what’s in front of me when I’m alone: my apartment, clothes, small gestures of the body.”
Chastagner’s background in art history also influences her work, especially through the lens of archaeology and the often mysterious origins or uses of small figurines or personal objects. She’s particularly interested in the kinds of talismans and goods that were buried with the deceased in order to accompany the soul to the afterlife—a ritual seen in myriad ancient cultures around the globe.
Clay is itself a timeless and inherently malleable medium, which Chastagner appreciates for the range of techniques and consistencies she can work with. Because the material is soft and immediately responsive to touch, it represents a kind of freedom and openness. “I was also drawn to (clay’s) simplicity,” the artist says. “It’s a natural material that’s been used by human beings since the earliest civilisations. It has a universal quality.”
Recently, Chastagner has been working on a series of domestic environments, such as small bedrooms and living rooms. These move beyond objects or figurative gestures to consider the spaces that encompass the body and evoke a sense of nostalgia for miniatures, like dollhouses.
The artist’s work will be on view in a solo presentation during Ceramic Brussels, which runs January 21 to 25, and celebrates her win of the fair’s juried Art Prize last year. Chastagner is also working toward solo exhibitions opening in April at Centrale in Brussels and in May at Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou in Paris. Explore more on her website and Instagram.
