Etienne Franzak

We start ageing when we finish learning

Etienne Franzak

As a new French sculptor, I will let you imagine my feeling when Del proposed to me to have a feature in his magazine. Over the Moon. Thanks again.

An economist by training, it was around the age of 30 that I decided to focus a know-how which had already been flowing in my veins: Cabinet-Making. Wood speaks to me! I am in my workshop with all these species of trees, these smells, these different wood grain and I am learning. One thing is obvious, I’ll never be finished learning with this organic material.

The idea behind my sculptures comes from inspirations which have grown in my head. Classic racing car, old wooden boat, not to mention war aviation as well. The story begins in 2019: I wanted to build a wooden car body incorporating the techniques of designing a boat hull. The encounter with a Riva on Iseo lake in Italy on board of my mahogany canoe from the 50s left traces. Which was a challenge in the execution of the know-how and subsequently became my signature.

My approach is simple. From the tree to handcrafted art. Each sculpture is unique; drawn, sculpted and assembled by the same hands. The scale is unique too, between 1/3 and 1/2. With a thickness of between 1.4 and 1.6 mm each slat of wood is shaped with my favourite palm plane and then held with love by brass nails. In 2020, my vision of the Belly Tank was born. Strapped to the back of my old Chevy Apache from 1958 I decided, encouraged by enthusiastic people, to share my work at the M.A.D gallery in Geneva. The exchange with the team gave me confidence about the path I was about to take. I am taking the opportunity to thank Maximilian Busser, founder of the watch brand M.B & F and Hervé Estienne, gallery director, for their trust. I strongly invite you if you are passing through Geneva to visit them, this unique place is filled with incredible wonder and soon the Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix from 1934 will be displayed.

Inspired by Kustom Kulture since my young age, “The Missile” is a 1/2 scale sculpture of the famous Belly Tank

built after WWII by the So-Cal Speed Shop garage in California. These old additional fuel tanks made it possible to prolong flight time during conflicts. In large numbers in the military surplus of the time, their aerodynamic shape quickly interested speed racing pilots. Made of elm, amaranth wood and Gabon ebony - 404 brass nails.

“The Walnut Arrow” is a 1/3 scale sculpture of the legendary Auto Union Type C from 1936 which won the Grand Prix championship that year. Third racing car built by the brand, the Type C is one of the famous “Silver Arrows”. Bernd Rosemeyer won three of the four Grand Prix in 1936. Made of walnut, oak, Gabon and Macassar ebony - 1216 brass nails.

“Le Pur Sang” is a 1/3 scale sculpture of the iconic Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix racing car from 1934. The Type 59 will be the last real racing car of Bugatti. Considered by observers to be one of the most beautiful singleseater of this racing era. Made of ash, lime wood, cherrywood, walnut, rosewood and amaranth marquetry - 1026 brass nails.

A creative adult is a child who survived!