| Cedric
Loth’s sculptures embody a paradox: the story of life,
told by stopping time. The result encompasses all that came
before and all that will follow–captured in a split
second of eternity. We are somewhere between myth and reality,
the heroic and the human. Loth also offers us a rare glimpse
of the primordial battle of Man against his own nature. A
battle that is reflected in the dual fascination of the sea:
the need to confront it and the desire to return.
Loth’s
work is evocative of both the Florentine School and Rodin
in method and technique. Yet its spirit is rooted in literature,
notably Hemingway, Conrad and Melville. We can smell the salt,
the rum and, above all, the freedom. The solidity of the detailed
bases provides strong opposition to the suppleness and fluidity
of the bodies and poles. These contradictory forces meet,
merge and then freeze on the edge of explosion.
Each piece
is the product of a complex casting technique called cire
perdue, or lost wax. Anywhere from 10 to 20 molds are used
in the process. The molding, soldering and application of
patina chemicals require the patient and painstaking work
of many highly trained artisans. The sculptures are mounted
on pivoting bases and only a limited number are cast. Due
to both their originality and the technical feat they represent,
Loth’s sculptures are unique, inimitable and widely
sought after by collectors. |
