Sculptures Exhibition by Cyril Berthet

Until October 2024, discover a unique exhibition by Cyril Berthet, a french artist living in Cambodia.

Cyril Berthet is a French sculptor who was born in 1974 in the Lyon region and has been based in Cambodia since 2018.

Twenty years ago, with a friend, he began the art of sculpture, mainly in metal. Then he discovered the forms he loved through the artworks of Henri Laurens, Louise Bourgeois, Vladimir Zbynovsky, Nicolas Lavarenne, David Nash, Constantin Brâncuși and Andy Goldsworthy.

The different creative periods of his career were highly influenced through his discoveries of nature in all its form. This inspiration gradually found its way into the materials and development of his art.

When he arrived in Cambodia he became involved with plants and garden design. His eye was enriched by the environment and led him to design outdoor spaces and the concept of plant walls. He returned to sculpture, impressed by what he saw in this lush country, with its curved lines, voluptuous shapes, raw materials, particularly birds, stone and wood…

FLYING GALLEON

Similar to a ship levitating in space or a remnant of a galleon found at the bottom of the ocean.

The Flying Galleon is an allegory of the encounter between worlds that seem to have nothing in common. The juxtaposition between the shape of plants and metal can be made possible only with the help of water and air uniting the two uncommon objects together.

The different varieties of plants grow and multiply without the need for any substrate by absorbing humidity in the air. It’s what we can call an ‘Interdependent Cohabitation’.

These bizarre looking plants evoke lives below the surface such as corals and fish to take advantage of this very unusual habitat.

This particular cohabitation reminds us that our actions, even the simplest ones, always have an impact one way or another.

Socially, the connection between different worlds is often a source of inspirations and experiences that forge us throughout our lives. These exchanges are, for me, the richness of our humanity, we all have so much to share.

The symbiosis between different worlds exists everywhere around us, the greatest difficulty lies in the balance of the interactions between these worlds.

IDENTITIES

In a space vibrant with natural energy, stands a majestic wooden sculpture, combining both the robustness of the raw and the delicacy of life. An imposing tree, shaped with voluptuous curves, rises toward the sky, its branches forming a harmonious dance, while holes resembling bird nests open on its trunk, inviting exploration. Around this tree, colorful birds, carefully sculpted, soar in a dynamic choreography. This work, in its organic style, evokes increasingly vertical human constructions, symbolizing the aspirations and struggles of individuals seeking to rise while adapting to a complex modern world. The birds, each carrying its own color but all originating from the same piece of wood, illustrate the diversity of affinities and identities, proudly displaying their uniqueness while navigating in collective flight. It is a celebration of the harmony between nature and humanity, between individuality and community.