Nostos II embodies a striking contrast between the raw, timeless solidity of marble and the luminous fragility of glass, with a central golden core that invokes the legendary Midas Touch. Influenced by the Archaic period’s emphasis on idealized form and the minimalist abstraction refined by Brancusi, the piece strips away unnecessary detail, focusing purely on material and essence.
The myth of King Midas serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked desire. Granted the power to turn everything he touched into gold, Midas soon discovered that his wish was a curse he could no longer eat or embrace his loved ones. The story highlights the emptiness of material wealth when it comes at the cost of connection, love, and life’s simple pleasures. It’s a reminder that not everything that glitters holds true value.
The process was one of precision, guided by trial and error, though, this time, luck was on my side. I drew inspiration from ancient Japanese basket weaves, fascinated by their square, interlacing forms. In my hands, the shape evolved into something more brutalist, yet the nod to the Greek story of the Midas Touch felt fitting, a homage, in a way, to my own heritage.
The marble exterior acts as a sculptural prison encasing a radiant golden core, drawing on the myth of King Midas to reveal how the seductive allure of wealth can become a suffocating trap transforming beauty into confinement and offering a poignant reflection on the perils of unchecked desire and the illusion of material fulfillment.
By merging these influences, the sculpture reflects the delicate balance between permanence and fragility, tradition and modernity. Distilling form to its purest state, this piece eliminates excess, allowing the interplay of textures and materials to define its presence. The golden core, embedded within glass, acts as both a visual and conceptual focal point reinforcing the idea that true value lies not in excess, but in the harmonious balance of form, texture, and meaning.
Nostos II
Unique Piece
Hand-carved marble and hand-blown glass sculpture
This work explores the dialogue between weight and transparency, permanence and fragility. Polished marble anchors the form while glass emerges as a suspended counterpoint, suggesting return, memory, and material held between states. Nostos II continues an ongoing sculptural investigation into origin, movement, and the tension between solidity and vulnerability.
L: 23 cm W: 21cm H: 30cm
Price: €5200