Make it Burn then Hold
Price on Request
Details
Description
Make it Burn then Hold by Francisco Figueiredo Lopes
Monumental Sculpture
8 mm carbon steel rod, steel springs, steel chains, 6013 electrodes, PU K2 varnish, chrome enamel | 2025
250x308x296 cm | 70x24x30 cm | 50x36x23 cm
Make it Burn then Hold, a monumental 2025 sculpture by Lisbon-based artist Francisco Figueiredo Lopes, is a profound exploration of the paradoxes of contemporary existence. This isn't just a sculpture; it is a metallic meditation on the relentless cycles of creation, exhaustion, and industrial tension that shape our world.
Crafted from 8 mm carbon steel rods, steel springs, and chains, with a striking PU K2 varnish and chrome enamel finish, the sculpture embodies both immense strength and profound vulnerability. Its claw-like form, held in perpetual strain, serves as a powerful metaphor for the aggressive yet fragile balance of modern life. The meticulous welding and use of industrial materials, including a robust 6013 electrode, fuse disparate elements into a unified, tensioned whole.
With monumental dimensions of 250 × 308 × 296 cm, Make it Burn then Hold radiates a precarious energy. The two prominent steel springs (70 x 24 x 30 cm and 50 x 36 x 23 cm) are not merely components but visual and functional symbols of potential energy, making the underlying tension tangible. The brutalist elegance of its finish reinforces its raw presence, demanding contemplation.
Behind the Canvas
Francisco Figueiredo Lopes (Lisbon, 1998) is a sculptor whose work explores the tension between creation and destruction. Based in Lisbon, he investigates cycles of extraction, transformation, and consumption through sculpture and installation. His practice merges industrial processes with manual interventions, producing works that oscillate between control and collapse, structure and spontaneity.
