Nathalie Latour
immortalizing wax sculptures
Nathalie Latour is both an artist and an art historian whose work revolves around the creation of anatomical and naturalistic models using methods reminiscent of the eighteenth century. She pays homage to a bygone era when wax was the preferred medium for immortalizing the impermanent due to its unique texture, translucency, and vast chromatic range.
During the eighteenth century, wax became a crucial medium for representing anatomical, zoological, mycological, and botanical subjects, thanks to its collaboration between artists and researchers. This partnership resulted in ceroplastic productions in cities like Bologna and Florence, which seamlessly merged scientific accuracy with undeniable aesthetic appeal.
Nathalie Latour's artistic practice is a modern tribute to these extinct processes. She exclusively employs eighteenth-century mediums and techniques, adapting old know-how to a contemporary vision of ephemeral bodies. This approach allows her to reinterpret ancient traditional codes and evolve towards a form of contemporary poetry.
Her models, crafted from organic, precious, and natural materials, serve as a bridge between past and present, art and science. Through her work, Nathalie Latour revitalizes the syncretism of knowledge and aesthetics that dominated wax production from the eighteenth century until its decline in the twentieth century. In doing so, she invites viewers to contemplate the intersection of art, science, and history, fostering a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship and beauty of the natural world.
