Tótem I is a vertical sculpture by Justino Del Casar that reinterprets the ancestral totem through organic, almost vertebral forms. Standing just over a metre tall, it is the most compact piece in the series, stacking a sequence of swelling and tightening volumes like a spine or a column of living matter growing upwards.
Entirely covered in an intense, matte black finish, the sculpture reads as a single continuous body. The modules shift slightly from one to the next, so the silhouette changes as one moves around it, while light slides over the curves and gathers in the hollows, giving the surface a quiet rhythm. Anchored on a square metal base, the figure holds a delicate balance between weight and upward movement, occupying space with a calm, almost ritual presence.
Made from shredded paper recovered from a Valencian document destruction company, the piece is hand-modelled following the ancient papier-mâché technique, then air-dried, assembled, sanded and polished. What was destined to be destroyed becomes a timeless presence, positioning Tótem I between contemporary sculpture, sustainable art and collectible design.
Artist: Justino Del Casar
Dimensions: H114 × 24.5 × 24.5 cm
Materials: Recycled paper, White plaster, Wood glue, Metal
Year: 2021
Signed and certified by the artist
Tótem I is a vertical sculpture by Justino Del Casar that reinterprets the ancestral totem through organic, almost vertebral forms. Standing just over a metre tall, it is the most compact piece in the series, stacking a sequence of swelling and tightening volumes like a spine or a column of living matter growing upwards.
Entirely covered in an intense, matte black finish, the sculpture reads as a single continuous body. The modules shift slightly from one to the next, so the silhouette changes as one moves around it, while light slides over the curves and gathers in the hollows, giving the surface a quiet rhythm. Anchored on a square metal base, the figure holds a delicate balance between weight and upward movement, occupying space with a calm, almost ritual presence.
Made from shredded paper recovered from a Valencian document destruction company, the piece is hand-modelled following the ancient papier-mâché technique, then air-dried, assembled, sanded and polished. What was destined to be destroyed becomes a timeless presence, positioning Tótem I between contemporary sculpture, sustainable art and collectible design.
Artist: Justino Del Casar
Dimensions: H114 × 24.5 × 24.5 cm
Materials: Recycled paper, White plaster, Wood glue, Metal
Year: 2021
Signed and certified by the artist
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