Original artwork

With Paparazzi, Philippe Malo gives physical form to one of the most striking contradictions of our time: the obsession with image versus ecological urgency. Created from recycled copper wires — noble industrial waste turned into raw material — the sculpture fully embodies the artist’s trash art and récup art approach, where discarded matter becomes a carrier of meaning, memory, and resilience.

The female figure, exaggeratedly elongated, deliberately echoes the unrealistic stereotypes of high-fashion models. This silhouette acts as a critical mirror held up to a culture of appearance — a beauty shaped to be seen, consumed, and discarded. Built from waste materials, it becomes a hollow shell, a silent victim of the endless cycle of production, desire, and abandonment.

Opposition is the driving force behind Paparazzi. On one side, excessive waste and the pursuit of unattainable bodily perfection; on the other, the intrinsic strength and beauty of reclaimed material. The copper wires, with their shimmering texture and reflective glow, catch the light like camera flashes, reinforcing the voyeuristic gaze evoked by the title.

As a sculptural manifesto, Paparazzi transforms the debris of consumption into a fragile yet powerful icon. It celebrates a beauty forged from waste — durable by nature — and invites viewers to reassess not only aesthetic standards but also our responsibility toward the material footprint of our desires.