Pigment on natural sea sponge
Approx. 40 cm (15.7 inches) height
In Blue Sponge, Studio 198 engages with material, colour, and absorption, drawing conceptual resonance from the sculptural explorations of Yves Klein and his iconic sponge works.
Formed from a natural sea sponge, the piece is both object and surface — a living structure transformed through colour. Each cavity has been meticulously worked with pigment, applied with care and precision so that the colour penetrates rather than merely coats. This process allows the blue to inhabit the form fully, saturating its porous architecture.
The result is not a uniform surface, but a depth of tone that shifts subtly with light and perspective. Shadows gather within the sponge's natural hollows, creating a sense of internal movement and spatial complexity. The object becomes both sculptural and atmospheric — a vessel of colour rather than a carrier of it.
The use of a found, organic form introduces an element of unpredictability. No two surfaces behave identically; the sponge dictates its own rhythm, its own absorption, its own resistance. The artist's intervention becomes a dialogue with the material rather than an imposition upon it.
At approximately 40 cm (15.7 inches) in height, the piece commands presence while retaining an intimate, tactile quality. It invites close viewing — an encounter with both surface and interior.
This is a one-off original.