Marie-Antoinette
Freehand-blown glass chandelier, brass
210 x ⌀ 175 cm, 98.2 kg. 

Jeremy Maxwell Wintrebert (JMW) offers an interpretation of the chandelier—a historical and cultural object that traditionally embodies nobility in the collective unconscious. Here, it is removed from its traditional heights, floating just above the ground, inviting visitors to step into a once-inaccessible space.

Named Marie-Antoinette in reference to the queen’s pearls, this piece resonates with its surroundings—the very gardens that once belonged to her—and with France’s monarchical and revolutionary history. Responding to Matter & Shape’s invitation, the installation echoes the 1925 International Exhibition, creating a dialogue between past and future, tradition and innovation.

Through his signature medium, glass, JMW presents a freer, more poetic vision of objects—a narrative of savoir-faire and savoir "dé-faire" -to undo-, where established conventions are questioned. He explores the noble narrative and the deeply ingrained cultural symbolism of the chandelier, aiming to restore its relevance to contemporary society. He invites us to reconsider not only the object itself but also our relationship with matter, space, and the aesthetic narratives that shape our perceptions.