Biography

Christophe’s early interest in sculpture began in Soapstone from the age of 10, and was introduced to the medium of sandstone by his French born mother and sculptor, who, herself, had been fortunate enough to receive invaluable tuition from her neighbour and well-known Sydney sculptor, the late Mitzi McColl,  and although completing many soapstone, clay, hebel stone and award winning sandstone works during his school years, Christophe’s talent remained dormant thereafter for many years through the life distractions of career, travel, and family.

Early in 2007, Christophe took a break from his successful marketing career as a brand developer to spend more time with his family. This gave Christophe the opportunity to unearth his hammer and chisels and revisit the blocks of sandstones that had been laying dormant awaiting his return in his back garden: he has never looked back..

Christophe chooses to work from natural Australian sandstone, handpicked from Gosford and Bundanoon quarries; he has a very strong connection with the stone and mentions

… “The quality of stones I hand pick from the quarries hold incredibly beautiful iron bands of grain which I attempt to unveil and celebrate in all my pieces…. Sandstone holds many aesthetically pleasing qualities that i admire. I love the raw physical nature of sandstone, it’s colour, it’s texture, touch, durability and the historic history and connection it holds with the earth ” …

Sandstone enables the smooth, simplified forms, subtle curves, flowing lines and rounded surfaces found in Christophe’s abstract works, and there are also many variations and combinations of textures waiting to be touched in his pieces.  These textures include naturally weathered, frosted by chisels, rasped rough and polished smooth. Christophe has clues about the attributes of any given stone before he starts to sculpt it, but its full beauty and unique grains and characteristics are often not revealed until the sculpture nears completion.

Conder’s artworks encourage viewers to discover new elements with each perspective, inviting them to explore the balance between void and fullness, the inner turning outward, concave meeting convex, and light following dark. This harmonious coexistence of opposites, as he sees it, reflects the complexity and unity inherent in nature itself. Christophe’s sculpture not only offers the viewer an infinite number of vantage points, it also offers one of the most vital sensual characteristics – the sense of touch. This is equally as important as the visual experience.

…”I carve sandstone as an invitation to touch. I want people to feel the smooth, warm strength and polished texture of the stone. I believe that the relevance of touching a stone is increasingly important in this visual age.  I will never forget the day my son at the age of two, saw one of my abstract female works positioned in the backyard for the first time. He went straight up the torso with both hands and slid them down across her face and over her shoulders exploring the textures and spaces. It spoke volumes to me. If a 2 year old wanted to do this instinctively then i’d image all of us would like to do the same…”

Christophe aims to create organic forms that evoke a sense of existence. While he draws deep inspiration from nature, he does not focus on replicating specific natural objects in sandstone. Instead, he shapes forms that embody a sense of completeness and harmony, evolving into introspective, minimalistic shapes that capture power in their simplicity.

In more recent years, Christophe has since explored different mediums and elements to showcase his concepts, venturing into creating magnificent sculptures in polished and mirrored stainless steel, bronze, brass, marble and also resin.

Other than his most admired artists Brancusi, Henry More and Barbara Hepworth, Christophe draws his inspiration from his fascination with the female form, mother nature and his interactions with the natural landscapes he grew up with across Sydney’s foreshores and national parks.

Conder’s work has been acquired by discerning collectors throughout the globe and has exhibited many of his works around the Australian public arena including the Parliament House Sydney, The Sydney Domain, Barangaroo Crown Casino, The Royal Easter Show, The Australia Square Building, and Darling Park. He has also won an array of awards and recommendations.