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Macro: Giant hyperrealistic sculptures of everyday objects by Rómulo Celdrán

When you walk around your home, perhaps noticing things out of the corner of your eye or perhaps not at all – take a moment to consider the astonishing giant sculptures of everyday objects by Spanish artist Rómulo Celdrán. Think hyperrealistic hot water bottles, clothing pegs and bottle caps, but on an exaggerated, larger-than-life scale.

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Giant hyperrealistic sculpture of a paint tin on its side with red paint spilling out, displayed in a gallery space with a visitor in the background

Under the name of Macro, the series of artworks aim to explore the extensive world of objects that interest Celdrán for different reasons, be they aesthetic (or anti-aesthetic), plastic, functional or even emotional. They're objects that are often forgotten and taken for granted, but actually play a very important role in our human lives.

What would we do without the humble clothes peg? How would clothes stay on the line if it weren't for this helpful little tool? Or what about freshly opened packets of food? How would they stay clamped shut and preserved? And how would we warm our beds on a cold winter's night if we didn't have access to the humble water bottle? Celdrán gives the objects new dimensions, strengthening their presence and inviting us to explore them, discovering hidden spaces and unnoticed nooks.

The sculptures almost place us before a giant world, as though we had suddenly been zapped by a laser and shrunk to the size of a walnut, walking through a reality made up of objects whose unsuitable size renders them functionally useless, existing on a scale that is no longer human. As Celdrán explains: "I believe there is something magic in the world of scales. There is a kind of emotional memory that invites us to feel the relationship with the Macro objects as if it were a game.

"As children, we view the world on a much larger scale than other people. In order to satisfy that feeling of relationship with the external world, many brands of toys try to create a world on a child’s scale. They manufacture cars, kitchens, tools and other objects to scale for children. That memory of playing, of curiosity, of identification with what we apprehended remains somehow fixed in our memory.

"Discovery, surprise and, of course, irony, are aspects that I would like to see hovering around this series of works. Reality does not exist. And if what exists is the perception that we have of it, why not explore the underlying principles of that perception?”

Born in Spain in 1973, Celdrán enjoyed his first solo exhibition at the age of 16. His early introduction into the professional artistic world led him to consolidate his artistic training in a self-taught way. He has exhibited internationally, won numerous awards and his paintings and sculptures can be found in many public and private collections worldwide.

Turquoise hyperrealistic sculpture of a giant hot water bottle with textured surface and mounting loop, by Rómulo Celdrán
Teal hyperrealistic sculpture of an open hot water bottle with a grey stopper visible inside, by Rómulo Celdrán
Close-up detail of a blue hyperrealistic sculpture showing textured surface with linear patterns and a moulded form with "MACRO" inscribed, by Rómulo Celdrán
A large turquoise sculpture of a flip-flop showing textured surface detail and curved edges against a white background
Man in blue shirt standing beside a giant turquoise hyperrealistic sculpture of a hot water bottle by Rómulo Celdrán
Giant hyperrealistic sculpture of a red and silver bottle cap by Rómulo Celdrán from his Macro series
Weathered grey hyperrealistic sculpture of a clothes peg with red accents and worn surface texture, part of Rómulo Celdrán's Macro series
Hyperrealistic giant sculpture of a bottle cap with ridged gold and silver metallic surfaces by Rómulo Celdrán
Artist Rómulo Celdrán poses behind a giant hyperrealistic red bottle cap sculpture from his Macro series, which reimagines everyday objects at exaggerated scale
Man standing beside a giant white hyperrealistic sculpture of a compartmentalised storage unit by Rómulo Celdrán from the Macro series
Empty interior of a giant hyperrealistic sculpture of a clothes peg, showing the hollow white compartment with mounting holes and clips
Close-up detail of a giant hyperrealistic sculpture of a white plastic clothes peg by Rómulo Celdrán, showing textured surface and shadows
A visitor viewing a white sculptural organiser unit with multiple compartments displayed in a gallery space, casting a shadow on the floor
Close-up of hyperrealistic giant sculpture of clothing pegs by Rómulo Celdrán, showing blue and pink pegs with detailed textured surfaces against white background
Close-up of a hyperrealistic oversized sculpture of a pink and blue clothes peg with metal spring mechanism by Rómulo Celdrán
Giant oversized blue and pink clothes pegs arranged on a white wall next to a man for scale, by artist Rómulo Celdrán
Close-up detail of giant hyperrealistic blue and pink clothes pegs sculpture by Rómulo Celdrán, showing textured surfaces and interlocking forms
Giant hyperrealistic sculpture of a pink and blue plastic clothes peg by Rómulo Celdrán, shown in close-up detail against a white wall
Three overlapping hyperrealistic wooden clothes pegs in blue and pink, part of Rómulo Celdrán's Macro series of oversized everyday object sculptures
Man standing beside wall-mounted oversized turquoise and pink clothing pegs from Rómulo Celdrán's Macro series of hyperrealistic sculptures
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