XXXII (2019) Sculpture by Nils Orm

Who am I ?

Born in the Paris area in 1974, I was, none the less, attracted at a very early age to the mountains, and I moved to Savoie in 2001. I am passionate about climbing, skiing, and high altitude sports, I quickly discovered the wonders of the mountain massifs around Chambéry ; first in the Bauges massif, and from 2010, in the Chartreuse.

My inner voice pushed me to re-orientate professionally and evolve as an artist. Thus, in 2019, I launched myself into wood sculpture, after a 20 year career as a design draftsman.

Why do I Sculpt ?

 From a young age, I have always had a creative soul, I have always had the urge to draw, paint, model and latterly photograph landscapes. These artistic activities are, for me, a refuge and a form of meditation. 

Before devoting myself solely to sculpture I started making wooden furniture for my home, studio & workshop. I was immediately seduced by this material : the richness of textures and shades that vary with the light were a discovery which beguiled me.
I wanted to use these characteristics to imagine and transform objects into pieces of art. This is how the idea of sculpting and creating unique works of art was born. Today, sculpture allows me to unite my many passions.

What inspires me ?

As with my drawings, I get my inspiration, both from the poetry that nature offers us when we know how to hear it and from my imagination. I’m also inspired by the modern world that surrounds me ; its fear, oppression, and stress all reflects on me.

How does my art emerge ?

Before working on the noble material that is wood, I sketch my ideas on paper and search for a harmony of shape, a balance of volumes, and a true or false symmetry …

Geometry is of great importance to me, this element of my creation having been infused at an early age by my drawing teacher. I also try to give my creations as much free movement as possible.

What role does light play ?

My works of art can, depending on the desired effect, have different finishes (paint, Yaki Sugi ita, oil, sandblasting, …). My second objective, having formed and textured, is to give “life” to the piece. This is where a key element comes in to play for me: the integration of light. Depending on the orientation, and the type of light (natural or artificial) combined with the chosen finish, the sculpture will take on other dimensions. A sculpture placed near an opening will not have the same colour in the morning, at midday it in the evening, in summer, or in the winter. As each piece can become darker or more radiant, it is left to the behest of the owner to decide which atmosphere they wish to be create.

Where does the wood come from ?

As for the wood used in my sculptures, I prefer using local species from the Chartreuse, or of European origin. I also promote recycling wood for the production of certain parts of my creations. I refuse, for ethical and aesthetic reasons to sculpt from any exotic essences.

• Nationality: FRANCE
• Date of birth : 1974
• Artistic domains: Works by professional artists,
• Groups: Professional Artist Contemporary French Artists