Butterfly Sculpture - Flying Away - Butterfly Statue - Signed

Flying Away – A Limited Edition Contemporary Bronze Sculpture - Signed Martin Klein

Martin Klein was born 1979, in Bischofswerda, a small town in Saxony known for its Baroque architecture and gentle forests. As a boy, he wandered those woodlands sketching leaves and insects, fascinated by the delicate symmetry of butterflies fluttering among wildflowers. This early fascination led him to pursue formal art studies at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, where he honed his skills in clay modeling and the ancient art of lost-wax bronze casting. Klein had returned to Leipzig, transforming a former industrial loft into his atelier—a sanctuary where his childhood marvels took shape in enduring metal.

Conceptual Spark: Capturing Fleeting Freedom

Klein began work on what would become “Flying Away,” envisioning a sculpture that celebrated transformation and release. He revisited memories of butterfly gardens he helped tend as a teenager, recalling how clusters of winged creatures—once bound by the tight space of a net—emerged with astonishing grace into open skies. Determined to translate that sense of liberation, Klein sculpted a life-sized hand cupping a swirl of rising butterflies. His clay maquette took form over weeks of intense study: he observed local butterfly species in Leipzig’s botanical gardens, noting the precise curvature of each wing and the subtle veins that glinted in sunlight.

From Clay to Bronze: A Meticulous Craftsmanship

The clay original was ready for translation into bronze. Klein collaborated with a premier foundry in Saxony’s Ore Mountains region, where artisans performed the time-honored lost-wax process. Molten bronze, heated to nearly 1,150°C, filled a custom ceramic mold, capturing every detail—from the gentle creases in the hand’s palm to the immaculate filigree of each butterfly’s wing. Once cooled, the sculpture underwent a laborious chasing and polishing phase under Klein’s watchful eye. A warm, multi-layered patina was then applied: a deep umber to the hand, evoking the earth that nurtures the butterflies’ chrysalis stage, and a luminous gold leaf finish on each winged creature, suggesting sunlight dancing across fragile surfaces.

Anatomy of Elevation: Form, Light, and Space

Though each “Flying Away” edition stands just 33 centimetres in height, its presence feels expansive. The sculpted hand emerges from a slender bronze support, its fingers curved in a gesture of gentle release. Perched on the hand are six butterflies, each captured in a distinct pose: some clinging tentatively to the life-giving hand, others already mid‐ascent, wings spread wide in joyous flight. Klein’s mastery of negative space allows the butterflies to appear weightless, as though a single breath might lift them skyward. When illuminated from above, the gold leaf wings catch and refract light, casting soft, fluttering patterns on surrounding surfaces—an effect that evokes the serene beauty of a butterfly garden statue basking in early morning sun.

 

Symbolism of Metamorphosis and Hope

For centuries, butterflies have represented transformation, rebirth, and the fleeting nature of existence. In “Flying Away,” Klein accentuates this symbolism by positioning the figures just beyond the threshold of the hand—an impermanent connection that hints at inevitable departure. The supporting hand, rooted in the bronze’s earthy depth, symbolizes grounding and nurture; it represents the life stage that must eventually let go. This dynamic offers a poignant meditation on growth and change, inviting viewers to reflect on moments of personal metamorphosis: the courage needed to leave familiar comforts and the exhilaration of new beginnings.

A Collector’s Treasure: Limited to Twenty

This butterfly sculpture is produced in a strictly limited edition of just twenty signed casts—each discreetly engraved “M. Klein” beneath the arch of the wrist. Each numbered piece arrives mounted on a polished base, the butterflies’ own golden luster. Whether placed on a windowsill in a sunlit study, a console in a modern living room, or within a curated gallery of contemporary art, “Flying Away” commands attention without overwhelming its surroundings. Over time, the bronze’s patina will deepen, revealing subtle tonal shifts that mirror the life cycle of the butterflies it depicts.

A Timeless Gift of Inspiration

For patrons seeking a meaningful gift—be it to celebrate a graduation, a milestone birthday, or a cherished recovery—this butterfly statue embodies a timeless message: that true beauty often lies in the act of letting go. Its delicate yet resolute forms speak to the heart, reminding us that even in small measures, moments of transformation can ripple outward, lifting us toward new horizons. In Martin Klein’s “Flying Away,” the artist’s childhood wonder, technical mastery, and poetic vision converge to create a work that endures—an eloquent testament to the fragile, fleeting, and ultimately uplifting miracle of flight.

Height: 33 cm

Width: 26 cm

Depth: 13 cm

Weight: 2,9 kg

100% bronze