Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 12:01AM
Fabian Lewkowicz in Heal the Bay, Sculptures, art
Parisian native Artist Victor Douieb (center) with Aquarium Director Vicki Wawerchak (right) and internationally-recognized diving legend Cristina Zenato (left) discuss his bronze with patina sculpture entitled, "Great White Shark with Seal" (2010, L:34.5" W: 22" H:22) during the Benefit Exhibition at Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium on Saturday, May 7, 2011.
On display were 10 sculptures including two of Victor's newest additions, Blue Shark and Mako. All door proceeds from the event benefits Heal the Bay, a non-profit environmental group working to restore Santa Monica Bay.
"I'm very pleased that my first exhibit here will also be helping the environment by partnering with both the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and Heal the Bay," says Douieb, whose catalog of work includes both sea creatures - primarily sharks - as well as other wildlife. "As someone who loves the ocean, and especially as Los Angeles is my adopted city, I feel strongly about doing my part in helping to protect and save the local coastal waters."
Douieb has been passionate about sharks since his first deep sea dive when he was 18 years old.
Captivated by their power, grace and beauty, Victor began sculpting sharks as a means of expressing his appreciation of this perfectly evolved creature's pure simplicity, but also to help bring attention to the impact that over fishing and the needless slaughter by the shark fin industry is posing to shark populations worldwide.
"Before sculpting my first shark," Victor explains, "I had been a dental ceramist and technician giving me the knowledge and experience which later made sculpting very natural for me. One day while at work, I suddenly got the urge to sculpt a little shark out of silver, not realizing that 20 years later, sculpting would become my profession."
Prior to beginning a new piece, Victor immerses himself in understanding the subject in terms of its general nature, habitat, and the anatomy and dynamic movements of the body. Typically he will attempt to get as close as possible - whether diving with sharks around the world or journeying to Africa for a wildlife safari - to photograph and experience the animal in its native environment.
Continually adding to his portfolio, which currently consists of 21 works that originate in clay and are then cast in bronze with beautiful and exotic patinas or in gleaming stainless steel, a finish that sets his art apart from most of his contemporaries, Victor is an ardent supporter of numerous conservation organizations donating a percentage of proceeds from the sale of his artwork.