Caio Marcolini

Wire sculptor

©Rafael Barros

Poetic wires of metal

Caio interweaves thin metal wires together
He pushes the boundaries with his 3D sculptures
His work reflects constant dialogue between technique, form and interpretation

Caio Marcolini has a rich background in design and goldsmithing. He has developed his own techniques for weaving thin metal wires into poetic and three-dimensional sculptures. It all happened quite naturally for this Brazilian artist who lives in Porto. “I believe the craft chose me in an ethereal kind of way.” Indeed, Caio creates without prior sketching. His craft requires patience and as he begins to weave a piece to life, he feels as if in a trance, connected to the wider universe. Inspired by organic and microscopic shapes and forms, Caio’s imposing pieces are more than sculptures – they are permanent investigations in the field of goldsmithing, design and contemporary art, fuelled by the continuous tensions between material and vision.

Interview

©Rafael Barros

©Rafael Barros

What types of metal wires do you use to create your pieces?: It depends on the piece I am working on. I love brass wire as it is malleable and oxidises well. Iron wire is harder to tame, and copper wire can be challenging as it is so soft. The process is always 100% manual and I make my own tools to help if needed.
When did you decide to open your workshop?: Officially, it was around 2019, but I started experimenting and creating with metal wires already in 2016. I have always been curious and restless, and felt a natural calling to work freely to develop my own language and dialogues with a material I love.
How would you describe your objects?: They play with contrasting notions of heavy versus light, opacity versus transparency, symmetry versus asymmetry. I like to challenge the interpretation of a piece – is it merely decorative, a sculpture or could there be another function?
Could you share a memorable moment in your journey?: When I started to see my pieces exhibited in galleries or spaces enabling a wider public to appreciate my metal sculptures. It was a wonderful moment of sharing, in sharp contrast to the hours of solitary and patient work with only my hands and my tools.

Caio Marcolini is a rising star: he began his career in 2020