A stone butterfly in a bronze blanket: The journey of an idea.

What whimsical trajectory does inspiration follow, and how do images of the surrounding world settle into our own experiences to give birth to something that never existed before?

This is a funny little story, the pieces of which recently came together in my head, and I want to share it.

Let me start by saying that I’ve accumulated an impressive collection of sea stones, which I pick up whenever I’m tempted by their peculiar sculptural shapes. What a vast playground for pareidolia that is!
What’s astonishing is that, while walking deep in thought, you can find stones that somehow reflect those very thoughts or symbolize what you’re contemplating. A subconscious process that feels like kind signs from the Universe.

2023 was a difficult year for me, and my mind was constantly buzzing with thoughts of change, of my own misconceptions, and a desire to shift something in order to find peace within.

Once, while walking along the water, I came across several stones in a row that reminded me of a butterfly. I’ll admit, not everyone would instantly recognize in these bits of rock the fragile and airy creature, but something about the shapes of those stones, their symmetry, evoked a strong association with butterflies in me. Very simple forms, reminiscent of ancient amulets—they seemed charming and appealing. Especially since two of them even had a primitive little “face,” made up of two dot-like eyes. I took the stones with me, because what symbolizes transformation better than a butterfly—exactly what I was contemplating inside myself?

A couple of months later, having long forgotten about those finds, I was absentmindedly kneading clay. It responded pleasantly to my hands, and soon took the shape of rounded, symmetrical wings and a solid, sturdy body in the center.

I should say that my creative process is always intuitive, and I never know what I’ll end up with. I simply let a shape emerge and refine it until it brings me visual satisfaction.

This time, a whimsical sculpture emerged, though a sense of confusion and instability could still be detected in it.
It wasn’t until I saw all the figures after casting (in 2024) that I realized the lines of the head and wings reminded me of something—and it turned out to be one of those “stone butterflies.”

In 2025, I created a new version. I happened upon an old prototype and decided to rework it. Interestingly, the 2023 sculpture—brought to life by anxiety and anticipation of change—transformed in 2025 into something more anthropomorphic and solid. The wings became a blanket spread wide in a moment of playful frenzy. This new version symbolizes unrestrained joy and, at the same time, a sense of safety.

The form undoubtedly changed, but the image of that small stone, which sparked two different sculptures, is still visible to me. After all, a butterfly can be depicted in many ways, depending on angle and proportion. I love butterflies and often observe them, but the motif of transformation and fragility came to me not from the “original source,” but from a sea-worn fragment in which I saw, in a randomly broken piece, a schematic face.

What I’m saying is—if you set out to trace where your inspiration comes from and you’re honest with yourself, you’ll be surprised.

Featured “Fool” bronze 2023 and “Blanket” bronze 2025.