Miguel van Esso

The metal is the material that Miguel van Esso uses to express his creativity. The sculpture is the final result.

During his childhood he awaited anxiously the Sunday morning visits to the "Almataller" ("Soulworkbench") of Libero Badii, one of Argentine best sculptors. "There in the midst of the marbel and the bronce, I would breath, peace and creation" , he remembers today.

Through the years, and now, the friendship with Esther Barugel kept him closely linked to the world of sculpture. They share the thrill of fused metals materializing their feelings .

Today, at 48, Miguel van Esso uses a striking singular technique. His materials loose their primary nature under the heat of the acetylene torch. Iron, bronze, aluminium and silver alone or merged in rich combinations expand through space, holding and expressing the ideas and feelings of the artist. The shapes and textures summon the viewer to touch, to discover, and to feel the fragility and vibrations of the metal.

The evolution of this artist can be apeciated through the development of his technique and the content. He began with heavy volumes and closed spaces in bronze, displaying his need for refuge. At this time he produced a long series of lovers that were shown in a number of exhibits including the National Museum of Fine Arts in Argentina.. At this time he began to use sketch drawings to mature the concepts of his sculptures. His work became more rigorous and his composition more disciplined. It was then that he started the transition from the artisan to the artist.

Since 1996 he has participated in a number of shows in the League Art Gallery and the Argentine embassy, in the USA.