Lifelong artist Yannick Bouillault boldly traded his boilermaker profession for the enchanting world of sculpture in 2016. Fascinated by raw materials, Bouillault creates graphic realms of sculpted geometric abstractions, steel busts and minimalist figures.
By Cécile Martet | 25 Oct 2023
Driven by the transformative power of materials and the interplay of substances, Yannick Bouillault sees himself as an interpreter rather than an artist. Although largely monochrome, touches of colour creep into his pieces: nuanced and delicate, they enhance the subtlety of his meticulous work, the fruit of years spent in the workshop and as a boilermaker.
How did you become a sculptor?
The versatility of different materials, like metal, wood, and stone, has always inspired me. My most complex works have been influenced by the materials I used as a boilermaker. My previous career and passion have enabled me to breach a new realm of creation involving the the transformation and repurposing of simple things, like cans and taps.
Tell us about your practice.
I don’t have any precise rules! It depends on each sculpture. Generally, I have an idea which takes me to the studio, where I’ll create a sketch or drawing to get the lines just right. Then I let the work unfold; corrections, improvements, and poeticisations happen naturally during the creative process.
I am a contemplative follower and mediator of modern humanism, as well as the action and reaction of nature; I draw tirelessly from this rich and fertile source. My influences are also more intellectual; I feel inspired by the thoughts of Thales of Miletus, Aristotle, Henri Bergson and Nietzsche, among others.
Why is metal your favourite material?
It’s the one I know best from my original profession. There are unlimited ways to shape it: bending, cutting, and welding it using different processes, but also swaging or stretching it. You can also modify its primary characteristics, which is very interesting and fun(!).
You work with geometric abstractions as well as nudes and the human form. What is your interest in these subjects?
My geometric abstractions often start with a complex idea that leads to minimalism. Within this transition, I hope to bring about an emotional response in viewers. Likewise, the human body offers many different curves and shapes, depending on the angle gazed from, providing another fertile foundation for reflection and exploration.
