zoumey sculpture 2024

CRAFTED FROM PLATE STEEL, WELDED TOGETHER WITH 112 FACETS, AND INDIVIDUALLY POLISHED AND PATINATED WITH FIRE, THE ZOUMEY SCULPTURE STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE ARTISTIC SKILLS OF ARNO DECLERCQ'S ATELIERS. DEVELOPED AND CREATED BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH OF 2024, EACH FACET BEARS THE MARK OF CRAFTSMANSHIP.

  • CRAFTED FROM PLATE STEEL, WELDED TOGETHER WITH 112 FACETS, AND INDIVIDUALLY POLISHED AND PATINATED WITH FIRE, THE ZOUMEY SCULPTURE STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE ARTISTIC SKILLS OF ARNO DECLERCQ'S ATELIERS. DEVELOPED AND CREATED BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH OF 2024, EACH FACET BEARS THE MARK OF CRAFTSMANSHIP.

    INSPIRED BY HIS PREVIOUS WORKS AND ROOTED IN THE FOUNDATIONAL ZOUMEY TABLES, ARNO EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY TO MAGNIFY THE FORM INTO VOLUMINOUS SCULPTURE, DELIBERATELY STRIPPING AWAY STABILITY WHILE RETAINING A PLAYFUL DANCE WITH GRAVITY.

    THE NAME "ZOUMEY" FINDS RESONANCE ACROSS ARNO'S OEUVRE, PREDOMINANTLY MADE IN IROKO WOOD SOURCED FROM BENIN, WEST AFRICA. THIS WOOD, DISCOVERED DURING TRAVELS WITH HIS FATHER AMIDST THE RICH HISTORY OF VOODOO ARTS, HOLDS A PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE. IT EPITOMIZES A CULTURE DEEPLY ENTWINED WITH NATURE AND SPIRITS, SHAPING THE ESSENCE OF DAILY EXISTENCE FOR THE LOCAL POPULACE.

    IN THE HEART OF BENIN, THE TERM "ZOUMEY" TRANSCENDS MERE NOMENCLATURE; IT SYMBOLIZES THE DENSE, MYSTICAL FORESTS OF IROKO TREES. WITNESSING THE HARVESTED TIMBER AMASSED IN COLOSSAL PILES, ARNO FOUND HIMSELF CAPTIVATED BY THE ORGANIC, ALMOST SURREAL SCULPTURES IT INADVERTENTLY FORMED. HUMBLE IN ITS SILENCE, YET POSSESSING A RAW, UNYIELDING BEAUTY, THESE SHAPES EMBODIED PERFECT EQUILIBRIUM AMIDST THE CHAOS OF NATURE.

    THE ZOUMEY SCULPTURE, THUS, EMERGES NOT ONLY AS A MANIFESTATION OF ARTISTIC VISION BUT ALSO AS A HOMAGE TO THE HARMONIOUS INTERPLAY BETWEEN CULTURE, NATURE, AND SPIRIT THAT RESONATES THROUGH ARNO DECLERCQ'S CAPTIVATING CREATIONS.

  • 220 CM WIDTH X 290 CM LONG X 220 CM HIGH

    86,6” WIDTH X 114” CM LONG X 86,6” HIGH

    WEIGHT 980 KG / 2156 LBS

  • Arno Declercq’s monumental sculptures offer striking possibilities for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Crafted from solid wood or blackened steel each piece becomes a bold focal point—whether in private gardens, architectural interiors, cultural institutions, or boutique hotels. Their minimalist yet brutalist design language integrates seamlessly into contemporary spaces, while standing out with sculptural strength. Perfect as permanent outdoor installations, lobby centerpieces, or curated art moments in design-driven environments, these large-scale works are as functional as they are artistic. Handcrafted in Belgium with attention to form, texture, and atmosphere, they invite contemplation, elevate spatial identity, and provoke dialogue

custom bunker sculpture for the MIx hotel

WHEN ARCHITECT LIONEL JADOT PRESENTED US THE FIRST RENDERS OF ICONIC ROYAL BELGE THAT HAS BECOME NOW HOTEL ‘MIX' TELLING US IT WILL BE HIS BIGGEST PROJECT HE EVER DID, WE WHERE IMMEDIATELY ENTHOUSIAST TO BE PART OF THIS ADVENTURE. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS FINDING AN IDEA OF COLLABORATION. BRINGING COLLECTIBLE DESIGN AND LIMITED EDITION IN A LARGE PROJECT ISN’T EASY. ONLY AFTER 1 YEAR WE DECIDED THAT THE BEST WAY WAS TO PARTICIPATE WITH BRINGING SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING WE NEVER DID BEFORE.

  • I’M USED TO MAKE SMALL BESPOKE ITEMS FOR INTERIORS AND LARGE FURNITURE SUCHLIKE TABLES. LIONEL FOUND THE BEST SPOT FOR OUR KIND OF WORK AND ASKED ME TO DESIGN AND BUILD A LARGE SCULPTURE OF 4.2 METER TALL AND ALMOST 2 METER WIDE IN THE HALLWAYS WHERE THE ORIGINAL WHITE MARBLE IS STILL PRESENT AND WHERE THE GUESTS FIND THE ELEVATORS AND SO THE ACCES TO THE ROOMS.

    DESIGNING FOR 4 MONTHS, SOLVING PROBLEMS REGARDING WEIGHT AND STABILITY WE ONLY FINISHED THE DESIGN IN MARCH 2023.

    I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO MY STYLE OF SOME YEARS AGO. MORE SYMMETRICAL, ARCHITECTURAL AND STATIC. INSPIRED ON MY VERY FIRST DESIGN THE BUNKER CANDLE HOLDER MADE IN BURNED IROKO WOOD PROTECTED WITH A NATURAL PIGMENT BASED BLACK OIL. WE CREATED THE BUNKER, OUR VERY FIRST LARGE PUBLIC SCULPTURE. MADE IN OUR WORKSHOPS ALL BY HAND IN ZAVENTEM ATELIERS. ALSO MADE IN OUR SIGNATURE BLACK FINISH AND SOLID IROKO WOOD FROM WEST AFRIKA.

    WE NORMALLY GIVE ALL OUR PIECES A FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE, THIS PIECE WILL BRING BALANCE IN THE COLDER WHITE MARBLE HALLWAY CONNECTION THE RECEPTION DESK DESIGNED BY MAISON JONCKERS AND THE RESTAURANT WHERE YOU WILL FIND WORK BY MANY OTHERS.

    INSPIRED BY HIS PREVIOUS WORKS AND ROOTED IN THE FOUNDATIONAL ZOUMEY TABLES, ARNO EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY TO MAGNIFY THE FORM INTO VOLUMINOUS SCULPTURE, DELIBERATELY STRIPPING AWAY STABILITY WHILE RETAINING A PLAYFUL DANCE WITH GRAVITY.

    THE NAME "ZOUMEY" FINDS RESONANCE ACROSS ARNO'S OEUVRE, PREDOMINANTLY MADE IN IROKO WOOD SOURCED FROM BENIN, WEST AFRICA. THIS WOOD, DISCOVERED DURING TRAVELS WITH HIS FATHER AMIDST THE RICH HISTORY OF VOODOO ARTS, HOLDS A PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE. IT EPITOMIZES A CULTURE DEEPLY ENTWINED WITH NATURE AND SPIRITS, SHAPING THE ESSENCE OF DAILY EXISTENCE FOR THE LOCAL POPULACE.

    IN THE HEART OF BENIN, THE TERM "ZOUMEY" TRANSCENDS MERE NOMENCLATURE; IT SYMBOLIZES THE DENSE, MYSTICAL FORESTS OF IROKO TREES. WITNESSING THE HARVESTED TIMBER AMASSED IN COLOSSAL PILES, ARNO FOUND HIMSELF CAPTIVATED BY THE ORGANIC, ALMOST SURREAL SCULPTURES IT INADVERTENTLY FORMED. HUMBLE IN ITS SILENCE, YET POSSESSING A RAW, UNYIELDING BEAUTY, THESE SHAPES EMBODIED PERFECT EQUILIBRIUM AMIDST THE CHAOS OF NATURE.

    THE ZOUMEY SCULPTURE, THUS, EMERGES NOT ONLY AS A MANIFESTATION OF ARTISTIC VISION BUT ALSO AS A HOMAGE TO THE HARMONIOUS INTERPLAY BETWEEN CULTURE, NATURE, AND SPIRIT THAT RESONATES THROUGH ARNO DECLERCQ'S CAPTIVATING CREATIONS.

  • 450 CM HIGH x 200 CM WIDTH X 100 CM deep

    177 “ HIGH x 78 “ WIDTH X 39 “ deep

    WEIGHT 800 KG / 1760 LBS

  • Arno Declercq’s monumental sculptures offer striking possibilities for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Crafted from solid wood or blackened steel each piece becomes a bold focal point—whether in private gardens, architectural interiors, cultural institutions, or boutique hotels. Their minimalist yet brutalist design language integrates seamlessly into contemporary spaces, while standing out with sculptural strength. Perfect as permanent outdoor installations, lobby centerpieces, or curated art moments in design-driven environments, these large-scale works are as functional as they are artistic. Handcrafted in Belgium with attention to form, texture, and atmosphere, they invite contemplation, elevate spatial identity, and provoke dialogue