AF1

Maxime Siau - AF1

With AF1, Maxime Siau transforms an iconic object of contemporary urban culture — the famous Air Force 1 sneaker — into a sculpture in glazed porcelain, hand-painted, redefining the relationship between functional object and artistic artifact.

The work faithfully preserves the morphology of the original shoe, but endows it with a new visual identity: a delicate blue floral decoration inspired by 18th-century Toile de Jouy and Moustiers earthenware.

The ornamental motif creates a contrast between the delicacy of the decorated surface and the original sporting and mass-market function of the object. This juxtaposition is not only formal, but conceptual: the sneaker, a symbol of global fashion and mass consumption, is reinterpreted as a unique, precious, and unrepeatable object.

In line with Siau’s poetics, AF1 is part of an artistic path that explores the ambiguity of contemporary objects, questioning their cultural and symbolic value. The use of porcelain—a fragile and noble material—elevates an everyday item to the status of sculpture, shifting attention from utility to contemplation.

AF1 introduces a narrative dimension in which the floral decoration contrasts with the original identity of the object. This dissonance opens up a broader reading: the work suggests how the language of tradition—here evoked through porcelain painting—can be reactivated in a contemporary key, becoming a tool for critically observing the aesthetic codes of the present.

Maxime Siau, AF1: Prices and Value

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Maxime Siau - AF1 - 2025 - Unique Work

Maxime Siau - between innovation and tradition

Born in 1993 in France, Maxime Siau is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans sculpture, multimedia and painting. His creative path has been shaped by a wide range of experiences and training.

Inspired by ancient and universal traditional art and design, Siau's work explores themes of consumerism, the environment and urban culture. His works are often reflections on contemporary society and invite viewers to contemplate their relationship with the world around them.

Using techniques such as sculpture, casting and painting, Siau creates complex and enigmatic works that blur the boundaries between tradition and innovation. His favourite public spaces, ranging from lively urban neighbourhoods to quiet city parks, are a source of inspiration for his creative process.

Beyond the art world, Siau draws inspiration from music: his favourite albums range from rap to jazz to electronica. He also admires the work of other artists such as Wim Delvoye, Michel Blazy and Ai WeiWei, drawing inspiration from their innovative approaches to art.

Maxime Siau's artistic career bears witness to his passion for creativity and exploration. Through his diverse body of work, he continues to push boundaries and challenge perceptions, inviting viewers to join him on a journey of discovery and contemplation.

Japanese tradition - Kintsugi

Inspired by the ancient Japanese tradition of Kintsugi, Maxime Siau's works create a real journey where the past intertwines with the present, and where Japanese tradition merges with contemporary French creativity.

Siau, a talented sculptor and designer, stands out for his extraordinary mastery of porcelain, a material of rare delicacy. Inspired by ancient Japanese traditions and Delft porcelain, he boldly reinterprets this age-old art, creating links between history and modernity.

At the heart of his work is a subtle harmony between elegance and provocation. Drawing inspiration from urban culture and fashion, Siau accurately captures the essence of these worlds, creating sculptures that oscillate between sophistication and iconoclasm. Each work reveals both a nostalgic and contemporary aesthetic, evoking an exploration full of surprises and reflections.

The artist also addresses contemporary themes, often rich in references to popular culture, such as a basketball, a Dr Dre cassette or a Nike Air Force One shoe. Each object, be it an everyday use or a symbol of luxury, becomes a pretext for a reflection on our consumer society and its codes.

Every Siau creation is a meticulously crafted work of art. Through a rigorous process, the artist paints his sculptures by hand before subjecting them to a final firing, giving them a brilliant sheen. The use of enamel, sublimated at high temperatures, and carefully applied colours results in creations of astonishing beauty.

Exploring the infinite possibilities of porcelain, Siau pushes the limits of his art. Through complex fretwork and incrustation techniques, he skilfully combines the delicacy of porcelain with the fugacity of stabilised dried flowers, creating pieces of timeless poetry.

Timeless sculptures

Inspired by paintings that invite one to contemplate the fleeting nature of life and the futility of earthly pleasures and goods, sculptor Maxime Siau offers light and humorous works.

'Eccentric' is the first adjective that comes to mind when discovering Maxime Siau's sculptures. The artist models everyday objects in porcelain. His aim? To imagine the vanities of today and transform these still lives into sculptures.

"I asked myself what objects embodied our era, what traces we would leave to future archaeologists".

The answer? Consumer objects - sneakers, video game consoles, surveillance cameras, bottles of household products, cans - that the sculptor accumulates or juxtaposes to create unusual compositions in an unexpected material.

"With its preciousness, porcelain ironically comments on the exaggerated importance we attach to possessions; with its fragility, it highlights the fragility of life."

If his works can be understood as an invitation to consume more thoughtfully, Maxime Siau does not preach:

"More than conveying a message, I aim to make people smile".

Indeed, playing on the contrast between background and form, subject and technique, his sculptures adorned with delicate blue flowers, inspired by 18th century Toile de Jouy and Moustiers faience, do not lack humour or poetry. It is up to each person to interpret them as they wish.

Maxime Siau: Prints for sale with prices on Deodato Arte

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