Élodie Antoine is a Belgian artist who creates textile sculptures that resemble organic, fungal, and anatomical forms. She uses materials such as zippers, lycra, felt, and padding to manipulate the fibers and shape them into realistic or abstract shapes. Some of her works are inspired by the human body, such as hearts, brains, bones, and teeth. She cuts through the felt to reveal colorful cross-sections that mimic the tissue types of the organs. She also uses zippers to create rib cages, thoraxes, and other skeletal structures. Antoine explores the connection between textiles and anatomy, as both are soft, sensual, and transformable. She says that felt is especially interesting for making sculptures because it allows to make forms without sewing, like the organs of the human body.
Antoine has been interested in textiles since her childhood, as both her parents were skilled in knitting and sewing. She learned the classic techniques and then experimented with them to create contemporary forms that transcend the traditional boundaries of the medium. She currently teaches textile design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels and is represented by Aeroplastics Gallery. Antoine’s textile sculptures are a fascinating blend of art, craft, and science, that challenge the perception of the material and the body.
More info: Website, Instagram.
