Z3N-B3AR

Wall-Mounted Assemblage Sculpture - Found Objects & Mixed Media - 2021

A metallic sculpture of a seated robot in a lab coat with its arms extended, positioned in front of a colorful abstract background.
A metallic sculpture of a seated robot in a lab coat with its arms extended, positioned in front of a colorful abstract background.

Overview

Close-up of a steampunk-style robot with visible gears, wrenches, and mechanical components, rendered in metal with warm, orange and yellow lighting.

Z3N-B3AR is a one-of-a-kind assemblage sculpture by Emmanuel Marti that explores the balance between strength, vulnerability, and personal identity. Constructed from reclaimed objects and layered with symbolic details, the piece invites viewers to slow down, look closer, and discover new meanings woven throughout its intricate composition.

Details

Year, 2021

Size, Medium

Materials: Childhood Toys, Found Objects, Metal, Wood, LED Lighting

Dimensions: 50 × 44 × 12 in.

The Story Behind
Z3N-B3AR

Uncover the inspiration and symbolism that give Z3N-B3AR its distinctive character and meaning.

Z3N-B3AR emerged from a collection of the artist's childhood toys, becoming a deeply personal meditation on personality, mindfulness, and the continual practice of remaining calm amid life's inevitable chaos.

Mounted along the sculpture's legs are two vintage toy guns, serving as a philosophical reminder that true non-violence is not the absence of strength or capability, but the conscious choice to refrain from using it. Woven into the composition is an ouroboros, the ancient symbol of a serpent consuming its own tail, representing the eternal cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. It reflects the familiar patterns we often repeat throughout our lives, much like characters navigating an endless level within a video game.

Through this symbolic language, Z3N-B3AR invites quiet contemplation of existence while encouraging presence over distraction. Peaceful and introspective, the sculpture reconnects the artist with the curiosity and wonder of childhood. More than an assemblage, it serves as a personal talisman—a reminder that when anxiety begins to take hold, the greatest choice is often the simplest: embrace the present moment, enjoy the journey, and simply be Zen, Mr. Bear.

A Closer Look

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

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Close-up of a pinball machine's inner mechanics, featuring metal sculptures of figures, coils, wires, and colorful lights.
Close-up view of a shiny, metallic, complex mechanical structure with coiled springs, gears, and a reflective, colorful object resembling a disco ball at the bottom.
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Top-down view of a workspace with a partially assembled toy helicopter, various tools, parts, and supplies scattered around.