Mechanical bird - Philolaos Tloupas
Philolaos Tloupas, known as Philolaos (1923-2010), Oiseau mécanique [Mechanical bird], stainless steel, 1972
An emblematic sculpture in the artist's artwork, the Oiseau mécanique, with its surprising aspects, seems to have come straight out of his imagination. Its stainless steel structure allows a play of reflections with the sky, and oscillates between urban aesthetics and natural forms.
Philolaos presents two other artworks at La Défense : Nymphéas and Cheminées.
A word about the artist
Born in Greece, Philolaos Tloupas (known as Philolaos) went to Paris in the 1950s where he studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. In 1963, the architect André Gomis suggested that he create a "sculpture-architecture" in Valencia and enabled him to discover the powers of urban aesthetics. He then became the sculptor of architects.
At the same time, a material opened up new possibilities for him and played an important role in his artwork: stainless steel. In particular, he uses its natural modularity to create shapes that escape geometry to better connect with nature. Pursuing a personal plastic artwork, Philolaos expresses himself on different supports: he uses terracotta, turned wood, smoothed marble, washed concrete, among others.
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