Nicolas Deshayes

Nicolas Deshayes (b 1930) is a sculptor who uses materials such as anodized aluminium and vacuum-formed plastic to explore industrial processes. His work represents a joy in material; it situates malleable, natural forms against the slick plasticity of many of today’s industrial products. In doing so, it offers a purposeful contradiction between the permanence of the materials used, and the corporeality and destructibility of the natural world.

Deshayes was in residence in Studio 9 at Porthmeor from October to December 2014 as part of the Tate St Ives Artists Programme. During this time Deshayes developed a new body of research, and worked with materials including drawings, computer generated plans, ceramics, plaster and printmaking. Some of this new work was included in the 2015 Summer show at Tate St Ives, and others have since been displayed in the exhibition Darling, Gutter at the Glasgow Sculpture Studios.

Text: Ben Crack