Sergio Ruffato’s understanding of movement comes from observing dancers and bodies in motion. In attending figure drawing sessions where the model constantly moves through the space rather than holding the pose. He developed a series of gestural sketches conveying the visual sensation of motion rather than the static appearance of a body. The two dimensional studies were composed of few dynamic lines that rendered the essence of the subject. The lines on paper were then translated into metal sculptures. Using forging techniques, the sculptor is able to work with a malleable material when the steel is red hot and end up with a sturdy structure as it cools down. Most of his artworks are made using one continuous piece of metal that is heated and shaped into suggestive compositions. This process has led to a whole body of work that celebrates the transcendence of movement in a fluid and liberated style. Each sculpture appears as a ribbon flying in the wind that suddenly took the shape of a subject and was captured in metal.

In search of the sun rays that weave themselves into the landscapes of southern France, Sergio Ruffato began exploring the different ways of representing light and its flickering reflections on water. He has been working in brass to sculpt the various light waves resonating into free standing structures. The artist’s passion for developing metalworking techniques has led him to weave metal into designs inspired by traditional basketry culture. This workflow keeps expanding into new horizons enabling the artist to forge at a larger scale and display his sculptures directly in the landscapes that inspired their creation.