La chouette élancée, 2025

Lionel Wodecki  

“The Slender Owl" by Lionel Wodecki appears as a vertical, almost totemic silhouette, where the raw material of concrete seems softened to evoke the discreet presence of a nocturnal bird. The work plays on the balance between abstraction and figuration: the refined lines suggest the head and body of the owl without ever falling into naturalistic detail. This formal restraint gives the sculpture a meditative dimension, inviting the viewer to slow down and contemplate volumes rather than features.

The slightly textured surface, marked by small irregularities, recalls the handmade process and the gradual transformation of matter. The choice of concrete — a material often associated with architecture and solidity — contrasts with the usually light and silent image of the bird, creating a poetic tension between weight and elevation. The strong verticality reinforces the idea of a vigilant owl, standing like a sentinel, while giving the whole piece an almost minimalist elegance.

Through its economy of forms and slender presence, the work belongs to a contemporary approach in which suggestion prevails over description. “The Slender Owl" thus becomes less a faithful representation than a symbol: one of calm, observation, and a silent presence that dialogues with the surrounding space.