Description
Eduard Locota’s “Once Upon a Time I was a Butterfly” embodies a profound dialogue between art and functionality, transforming a mirror into a sculptural masterpiece. Locota’s innovative use of coal as a primary material redefines its role from a traditional fuel source to an evocative medium of artistic expression.
Coal, historically a symbol of industrial power, undergoes a poetic metamorphosis in Locota’s hands. By examining its journey from organic plant matter to a dense mineral, and ultimately to a contentious energy resource, Locota envisions a sustainable and imaginative future for this fossil fuel. His approach transcends mere recycling, instead suggesting an active and transformative reimagining of the material’s potential.
This piece narrates the metamorphosis of human ambition and labor. It portrays the life cycle of an individual—beginning with the youthful aspirations of a dreamer, likened to a butterfly full of hope, who seeks to reach the zenith of human achievement. As time progresses, this figure morphs into a seasoned worker, a simple proletarian, symbolically represented as a miner with a lamp on his forehead.
“Once Upon a Time I was a Butterfly” serves as a poignant reminder of generational toil and transformation, evoking the lives of our ancestors, our grandparents, and perhaps our own. It is an homage to the enduring human spirit, capturing the essence of our collective past while urging us to rethink and reshape the future of our resources and ourselves.
The artwork tells the metamorphosis story of a young man, that is full of hope [once a little butterfly with big thoughts, who wanted to conquer the peaks of humanity], transformed into an old aged worker, into a simple proletarian, into a “miner” with a lamp at his forehead.
It reminds me of my grandfather, of yours … maybe of ourselves.
Dimensions
L 47 cm / W 45cm / H 28 cm
*Note: because each piece is 100% unique & hand made, dimensions may vary from 1 to 2 cm.
Limited edition
Once upon a time, I was a Butterfly: is limited to 35 editions.
Each piece is signed by the artist and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity.
Medium
Coal, resin, brass wire, light.
110-220v, powerful LED illumination
ABOUT THE ARTIST
In the current context focused on excessive and unsustainable consumerism, the 21st Century welcomes us with a Darwinian transformation for both men and nature. Evolution which leads to the development of a synthetic man living in a synthetic nature. Heavy topics as regeneration and sustainable environment are thrown into the arms of the future generations, that have not been born yet.
Thus, the artist’s creations highlight the synthesis through alternative materials used, such as: synthetic marble (resin and marble dust), synthetic resin (Plexiglass), synthetic cement (Jesmonite), charcoal, wood, and so on. His works have a powerful conceptual plasticity but also physical plasticity, a concept that can be interpreted as modern works of the 21st Century.
His pieces are sold around the world, belonging to private collectors and royal families.
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