At the heart of the presentation are new works from Donat’s Lilia outdoor collection, presented for the first time. Conceived in continuity with the artist’s longstanding formal and symbolic concerns, the series introduces a pronounced vegetal dimension that recalls the ornamental vocabulary of Art Nouveau and the Art 1900 movement. Structured around the Lam motif – a pattern evoking organic growth, branching systems and vegetal vitality – the works unfold through totemic backrests and ligatured fabrics that echo the material intelligence of traditional African textiles. As with many of Donat’s most personal works, the pieces were initially conceived for her own home, reflecting the intimate and autobiographical dimension that runs through her practice.
The presentation also includes Table Basse Anneaux 2 PAN108, a work that exemplifies Donat’s mastery of bronze and her distinctive iconography. Defined by a rhythmic interplay of circular forms, the table draws on the enduring symbolism of the ring as a sign of continuity and ritual, while subtly evoking ancient civilisations and imagined mythologies. Both sculptural and functional, the work operates as a contemporary totem, oscillating between the archaic and the contemporary while remaining anchored in Donat’s singular formal language.
Alongside this, Buffet Cisco further articulates Donat’s sculptural approach to furniture. Characterised by its architectonic presence and intricately worked bronze surface, the piece reveals the artist’s fascination with rhythm, pattern and relief. Through its monumental presence and tactile materiality, the cabinet transforms a functional object into something almost ceremonial, emphasising the sculptural qualities that underpin Donat’s practice.
Extending beyond Donat’s own oeuvre, the presentation places her work in dialogue with a selection of artists whose practices similarly engage with material experimentation and the poetic potential of form. Artists including Léa Mestres, Wendell Castle, Roger Herman and Vincenzo De Cotiis explore, across diverse materials and approaches, themes of symbolism, texture and sculptural presence. In this context, their works resonate with and reinterpret aspects of Donat’s language, establishing a dialogue that unfolds across generations and practices.
Together, these works reflect a shared commitment to craftsmanship, expressive form and conceptual depth. Positioned at the intersection of art, design and sculpture, the presentation reveals how a singular artistic vision can reverberate across a broader field of contemporary practice, unlocking cultural narratives and emotional resonance within objects that ultimately transcend their function.
