Beating Heart in a Bottle

“I made myself a promise to express nature with simple forms, in a poetic way, and with a rhythmic flow.”

Philippe Bouveret welcomes accidents. It’s how he makes the little discoveries that often turn into the physics-meets-poetry sculptures for which he’s known.

Born just south of Paris, Philippe has always been fascinated by inventions. As a child, he was captivated by electricity and the telephone, and, after building a six-meter boat, thought about becoming a naval architect. When he discovered contemporary art, however, he traded sails and sculls for sculpture. Under his mentor, Belgian sculptor Pol Bury, he began by focusing on creating movement in his pieces, later adding an element of water. The two features have since become constants in his work, along with atmospheric pressure, heat, expansion, and evaporation. Together, they breathe life into his sculptures, which prove that there is indeed beauty in science.

Learn more about this maker of uncommon curiosities in an interview with Philippe on our blog.