Ousmane Dermé: Expressing the Beauty of Nature & Life

Hello Ousmane. We are delighted to have the opportunity to speak with you today. Let's go back to your beginnings. Can you tell us how you became a sculptor?

I was born into a family of sculptors, which allowed me to dive into the world of art and creation at a very young age. I first learned the technique of foundry art while starting to create my own works. 

I quickly found my way in the exploration of the material by seeking harmony and serenity. In the 80's, I started to make money with my art, which allowed me to devote myself entirely to sculpture.

Bronze is your favorite material. What do you appreciate in this alloy?

I had the chance to learn the technique of lost wax casting at a very young age and since then I have been creating my work entirely in my workshop. Each step in the creation of a bronze sculpture requires precision and technicality. This is why I appreciate bronze, this noble and unalterable material that can be transmitted from generation to generation.

While browsing through your gallery, one discovers a purified human figure. Alone, or in a couple, or a family. What are you trying to express?

I interpret the human figure with simple and universal themes. I seek to express the beauty and love of nature and life through the movement of the material. My creations touch on femininity or the attachment between beings in a couple or within the traditional family structure, but also moments around music or scenes of everyday life.

The curves that revolve around the bodies and the balance between the empty and the full are the result of a permanent search for harmony and serenity.

What are the steps between the idea of the sculpture in your head and the final result?

I first design the sculpture in beeswax, a very malleable and workable material. When I am satisfied with the shape I have created, the sculpture, it is covered with a molding material, as well as with armatures that can withstand high temperatures during the melting process. 

I then proceed to take off the wax, the firing of the mold and the casting of the molten bronze in the mold. The finishing touches (polishing and patina) give the final result.

"I appreciate bronze, this noble and unalterable material that can be passed down from generation to generation."

Many artists have inspired me and accompanied me in my work whether in Africa or in Europe. My African roots have allowed me to keep a source of inspiration in primitive and contemporary African art. 

In Europe, the encounter notably with the work of Henri Moore and Brâncuși also influenced me. But beyond this abundance of diverse influences, it is nature, encounters, and travel that have nourished and fed my imagination.