PHOENIX AWARDED BY LA PINACOTHÈQUE MUSÉE

In 2024, Phoenix was awarded the Artistic Achievement Award by La Pinacothèque Museum, Luxembourg, recognising the work’s artistic vision, material innovation, and technical excellence.

Phoenix stands as a large-scale sculptural work measuring approximately 1.5 × 1.5 × 1 metres (L × W × H) and weighing 200 kg. The sculpture is constructed on a robust structure of fibreglass and finished with high-resistance Portuguese ceramic and glass mosaic elements. Conceived using durable techniques, the work is designed for outdoor installation, ideally in gardens or water features, where it can engage with light, landscape, and reflection.

Inspired by the mythological phoenix, a universal symbol of rebirth, reinvention, and transformation, the sculpture draws on narratives shared across civilizations, from ancient Greece and Egypt to China and the present day. The phoenix, which burns only to rise again from its ashes, becomes a metaphor for continuous renewal and the cyclical nature of change.

Formally, the sculpture also references the lotus flower, a symbol of purity and enlightenment, known for blooming each morning after emerging from the mud. This dual symbolism reinforces the work’s exploration of contrast: delicacy and strength, grace and intensity, fragility and endurance.

The surface of Phoenix incorporates recovered Portuguese ceramic, sourced from end-of-life pieces, alongside glass and expressive pigments ranging from deep reds and golds to intense blacks. Through material reuse and transformation, the work reflects on sustainability, memory, and the potential for regeneration.

More than an object, Phoenix functions as a sensory and contemplative experience. It invites introspection and emotional engagement, transforming the space it inhabits into a place of stillness and reflection. Whether installed in a reflecting pool, garden, or contemplative environment, the sculpture establishes itself as a focal presence.

Technically, the work may be installed with a water-resistant base and can integrate a central fountain system, enhancing its immersive qualities. Fully weather-resistant and suitable for water submersion, Phoenix responds to the demands of both public and private contexts requiring high levels of aesthetic, technical, and symbolic refinement.

Ultimately, Phoenix is not merely a sculpture, but a manifesto on resilience and transformation — a testament to the enduring human capacity to rise, adapt, and create meaning from change.

Watch the Making Of