In the realm of artistic expression, ancient lore and modern craftsmanship can meet in a work that captivates the eye and stirs the soul. Goddess Chloris—an emblem of spring’s bloom and nature’s awakening—is reborn here through laser-cut wood and the timeless beauty of marquetry.
The piece began with pencil sketches. These early drafts were transferred into Illustrator, where shapes could be combined and every connection tested. What appears harmonious in the finished work conceals a demanding process: around fifty refinements and hundreds of hours before the design found its clarity.
Layer on top of layers
The flowing shapes had to make sense alone and together. Every layer needed to connect to the frame, sit securely over the previous one and preserve the natural movement of the complete design.
Laser cutting makes this multi-layered, three-dimensional language possible, but the machine does not make the artistic choices. Curves, joins, negative space and the way light will fall between layers are decided through persistent drawing and physical tests.
Marquetry: nature within the figure
Chloris is a goddess veiled in blooms, so real wood veneers were chosen for their authentic textures. The figure becomes a symbiosis of the female form and flora, with the elegance and raw natural allure that only wood grain brings.
Each piece of veneer is selected for tone and direction. When several grains meet, they can create expression and movement without paint—an old craft speaking inside a contemporary composition.
Mastering laser precision
CO₂ laser cutting carved the design with accuracy beyond a manual saw, allowing complex details and fine patterns to remain crisp across many layers. Once each layer was cut, the next critical decision was colour.
The finish had to connect adjacent layers while keeping their intricate details legible. Numerous mixtures were tested before the final palette balanced natural wood, warm reds, soft blue and the dark ground.
The finished presence
In the completed piece, Chloris takes centre stage and emerges from her garden. The vivid colour gives life to each layer, while the wood grains bring the goddess and the surrounding forms into the same natural world.
At 1192 × 780 mm, the work has an imposing presence that pictures cannot fully communicate. Installed on a wall, every line, careful detail and shifting shadow speaks of the dedication behind it.
The unique human touch
A machine can repeat a shape, but it cannot recreate the decisions driven by taste, doubt and care. Handmade works carry an essence marked by intention. This piece reflects time, genuine passion and the devotion required to make something one of one.