Johan Creten’s “La Laguna” (2021–2022) bronze sculpture greets visitors at the entrance of the new Tiffany & Co. store in Düsseldorf designed by Peter Marino. “La Laguna” is designed in a hybrid form that resembles a “seahorse” or an “underwater creature.” The sculpture evokes the feeling of a being emerging from the water or slowly taking shape beneath its surface. In this work, Creten focuses on themes of the sea, mythology, and transformation, as well as on concepts such as the passage of time, the fragility of ecosystems, and mystery.
Combining both mythological and contemporary references, “La Laguna” bridges classical sculptural forms with modern social and existential reflections. The work also plays on the artist’s recurring word association, “the sea and the mother / la mer / la mère” bringing together themes of nature, femininity, and creation in a metaphorical way. In this sense, “La Laguna” stands as a powerful example of Creten’s unique aesthetic that intertwines mythology, nature, and culture.
