Sylvestre Gauvrit

French sculptor Sylvestre Gauvrit is an artist who distils the movement and rhythm of nature into sculptural form. Drawing from a background in classical sculpture and an affinity for minimalist abstraction, Gauvrit creates pieces that are simultaneously complex and serene. Works that unfold like musical compositions in space. His sculptures are inspired by intuition, form, and the fluid tension between weight and lightness.

Commissioned for SYMPHONY SHANGHAI, a landmark development by Greentown, China, commemorating its 30th anniversary, Gauvrit was invited to create two major public artworks for the riverfront precinct in Shanghai’s Xuhui Riverside. The theme of the development, Flowing Feast Heartbeat Echoes, provided a conceptual foundation for both sculptures, which respond to the surrounding landscape and the energy of the city. One of these works, Magic Birds, captures the bold, upward momentum of Shanghai’s ever-evolving cultural identity.

Rising from the landscape like a pair of wings caught mid-flight, Magic Birds reflects the concept of “racing tides of life”, a metaphor for the city’s pulse and constant transformation. Its gleaming, aerodynamic form reaches toward the sky, embodying rhythm, freedom, and uplift. The sculpture’s curves suggest takeoff and limitless expansion, mirroring Shanghai’s trajectory as a global cultural force. At different times of day, light dances across the surface, transforming its presence and mood—at once grounded in material and transcendent in spirit.

The creation of Magic Birds required a close collaboration between Gauvrit, digital designers, engineers, and fabricators. UAP’s Shanghai team managed each step of the journey—from translating the artist’s sketches into complex 3D models to overseeing structural refinement, casting, and polishing. The result is a monumental work that balances elegance with scale and motion with stillness. Every aspect of its finish was designed to harness light and shadow, making the sculpture shimmer with vitality and reinforcing its sense of upward lift—both physical and emotional.