Marie Astier
SYMBIOSIS - SHAPING NATURE
curated by Spela Zidar
Opening November 19, from 5 to 8 PM
LdM Gallery, Via de' Pucci 4, Firenze
Free Entrance
After the opening, the exhibition will stay open until Thursday, December 3rd,
Morning: Mon - Thu 10AM-2PM, Afternoon: Wed 4-7PM, Fri 3-7PM
Marie Astier’s distinctive fiber art sculptures reveal the beauty of natural forms such as tree bark, fungi, lichens, and marine corals. Drawing on her background in textile engineering, Astier combines technical expertise with a refined knowledge of botanical dyeing, pleating, and felting to create organic sculptures that inhabit and interact within her own distinctive artistic environments.
Nature is the primary source of Astier’s inspiration. Through careful observation, she explores its vibrant colors, intricate details, and mesmerizing patterns, which she subsequently reinterprets and translates into her artworks. Her creative process combines meticulous planning with an attentive dialogue with the materials themselves, allowing their intrinsic qualities and limitations to inform the realization of her artistic vision.
Listening is an essential part of Astier’s practice. She approaches nature with respect and sensitivity, qualities that are reflected in her artistic process. Committed to sustainability, she prioritizes natural materials and reuses undyed deadstock fabrics, including wool, silk, cotton, hemp, and linen. For dyeing, she employs natural dye plants, either purchased or prepared by hand. Her sculptures are therefore organic not only in form but also in composition.
Through her work, Astier seeks to raise awareness of the natural world and the impact of human exploitation on the environment. By establishing a dialogue between artistic creation and ecological responsibility, she invites us to reconsider our relationship with nature and to envision a more balanced and mutually beneficial coexistence.
About LdM Gallery
The LdM Gallery is a project by Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici, an interdisciplinary space where academic research and artistic experimentation meet within a professional setting.