Play-T0

Wall-Mounted Assemblage Sculpture - Found Objects & Mixed Media - 2022

A sculpture of a humanoid figure made from various metallic and mechanical parts, mounted on a colorful abstract background. The figure has a face with wide eyes, an open mouth, and hair made of twigs or wires. One arm is crossed over the chest with a glowing light in the shape of a heart, and the other arm is holding a circular, gear-like object that emits light.

Overview

Play-T0 is Emmanuel Marti's first humanoid assemblage, a bold exploration of creativity, determination, and the drive to transform ideas into reality. An illuminated heart sits at the center of the figure, while its expressive form and integrated lighting create a striking composition that embodies the energy behind the creative process. The piece pushed Emmanuel to expand his technical and artistic abilities, establishing new approaches to structure, form, and light that would influence the ambitious assemblages that followed.

A detailed sculpture made of metallic objects, tools, and mechanical parts arranged with a fiery light source illuminating it from inside, creating a glowing effect with shadows and reflections.

Details

Year, 2022

Size, Large

Materials: Childhood Toys, Trophies, Found Objects, Metal Components, Wood, Integrated LED Lighting

Dimensions: 85 × 36 × 16 in.

The Story Behind
Play-T0

Discover the symbolism, experimentation, and creative drive behind the humanoid sculpture that helped shape Emmanuel's evolving artistic practice.

Play-T0 is the artist's first humanoid assemblage and represents the relentless drive of his creative spirit. At the center of the sculpture, an illuminated heart fuels an unwavering vision—an inner light that grows sharper and more focused as each project evolves from imagination into reality.

The positioning of the figure's arms forms the outline of a giant eye, while integrated LED lighting becomes its glowing pupil, creating a striking three-dimensional optical illusion. Cradled within this symbolic eye, the light of creativity is carried forward like a football racing toward the goal line, embodying determination, momentum, and the satisfaction of seeing an idea through to completion.

Creating Play-T0 challenged the artist to push beyond his existing technical and artistic abilities. The process became an exploration of structure, expressive form, and the integration of light as a storytelling element—laying the foundation for many of the larger, more ambitious assemblages that would follow.

A Closer Look

Every assemblage reveals new stories through its textures, materials, and hidden details.

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Close-up of a detailed sculpture of a motorcycle made from various metal parts, including chains, gears, and mechanical components, with a small red heart-shaped ornament in the center.
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