Marina Mankarios Fragmented Sculpture and Statuary Molding

Marina Mankarios is a Franco-Egyptian sculptor whose practice revolves around the transformative power of statuary molding. Based in Paris and a graduate of ENSAAMA Olivier de Serres, she has developed a distinctive artistic language centered on the philosophy that 'Molding is not Copying.' Her sculptures frequently reinterpret Greco-Roman canons, utilizing fragmentation, stretching, and compression to create new forms from classical foundations. By treating the mold not as a tool for reproduction but as an instrument of free creation, Marina Mankarios explores the aesthetic of the ruin and the expressive potential of white patinated plaster. Her work has been recognized for its ability to rewrite iconic forms through the lens of 20th-century literature and surrealism, bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary visual art. Each piece reflects a meticulous process of rethinking the status of the copy, resulting in unique, expressive artworks that emphasize the hidden potential of the molding process. Through her experimentation with plaster and patinas, Marina Mankarios captures the tension between destruction and creation, inviting viewers to engage with history through a modern, deconstructed perspective.