The Giraffe

The work of Françoise Matt-Halm, installed in 2005, consists of an electro-galvanized sheet metal structure, measuring 2.70 m for a weight of 30 kg. The artist first designed her work on a model, which then allows the necessary pieces of sheet metal to be cut out by laser and welded together. Finally, she applies a thermolacquered paint which gives the sculpture this very lively aspect. Françoise Matt-Halm’s artistic work is based on three major criteria that dominate this project: stylization for form: the artist starts from a figurative image for which we have a clue in the title, here a giraffe. The artist stylises, purifies and clarifies as much as possible the features of this image in order to arrive at a set of simple and geometrical shapes, which, by assembling them together, will re-form the initial image in the viewer’s mind. There are no more details on the final work, it is up to the spectator to redraw in his imagination the missing lines or details; Lightness for the structure: the artist works with electro-galvanized sheet metal which is a very flexible material, easy to work with but also very light. Indeed, the giraffe of the Nouveau Bassin seems light, by its fine, pure lines and the delicacy of its material; Cheerfulness for the colour: Françoise Matt-Halm uses more generally in her artistic work bright colours, sometimes contrary to reality (here the giraffe is composed of orange and blue). This gives the sculpture a cheerfulness, an additional enchantment.