A young Norman sculptor made a striking impression at the "Soudeurs du soir" (Evening Welders) festival in Lamballe, Brittany, with his remarkable metal sculpture of the Alicanto, a mythical bird inspired by Peruvian folklore. At just 22 years old, Eliot Madelaine, who works under the artistic alias Griffenfer, drew widespread attention during his first participation at the prestigious metalworking event.
Madelaine's educational background demonstrates his dedication to his craft, having already earned a professional certificate (CAP) and vocational baccalaureate in boilermaking, supplemented by another CAP in artistic ironwork and a year of study at the Fine Arts school. This comprehensive education has significantly nurtured his creativity and technical skills. He now devotes himself entirely to metal sculpture and artistic ironwork, successfully transforming his passion into a full-time profession.
The centerpiece of his exhibition, the Alicanto sculpture displayed in stable number 1, required more than two weeks of intensive work to complete. During the Lamballe exhibition, Madelaine also presented "Pyraméca," another piece that was won through the organizing association's raffle. The artist explained his inspiration for choosing the Alicanto, stating, "I needed a mythical bird." He elaborated that the Alicanto is a legendary creature from Peruvian folklore believed to bring good fortune to miners in Peru.
Building on this successful debut experience, Madelaine has confirmed his return to next year's festival, promising to showcase new creations for visitors to discover. The organizing association, thoroughly impressed by his participation and the positive response from attendees, is actively seeking volunteers to help prepare for the upcoming edition of the event. This enthusiasm from both the artist and organizers suggests that Madelaine's artistic journey and the festival's future editions will continue to attract significant interest from art enthusiasts and metalworking aficionados alike.
