Design: Atelier blam, founded and artistically directed by Aurélien MEYER, Production: Atelier blam

Sanofi brings Zeus, the symbol horse of Paris 2024, to Design Week

The artwork by Atelier blam will be exhibited in the heart of the 5VIE district at the Cavallerizze of the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, from April 7th to 13th

Milan, March 24th, 2025 – Sanofi brings Zeus, the iconic horse that sailed the waters of the Seine during the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the center of Milan Design Week. The art piece, designed by Atelier blam is the result of the atelier's know-how and scientific and artistic innovation. Zeus stands out for its majestic height of 1.80 meters at the withers and is inspired by Eadweard Muybridge's kinetic studies, capturing a sense of movement suspended in time. The artwork will be exhibited in the heart of the 5VIE Headquarters district, at the prestigious Cavallerizze on Via Olona 4, within the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci.

A venue that, with its vocation for research and innovation in design, perfectly matches Sanofi's vision as a leading company in the health sector, always being deeply rooted in research, innovation, and technological advancement. 

This extraordinary art piece represents a harmonious fusion between dynamism and substance, giving life to a collective imagination born from the encounter between precision engineering and sculptural refinement.

Audrey Duval

Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Sanofi

“It is a great pride to contribute to perpetuating the legacy of Paris 2024. Zeus represents much more than a simple artwork; it embodies essential values that Sanofi employees worldwide share and defend every day. Values of resilience, excellence, solidarity, and peace. We are thrilled to present Zeus at the Milan Design Week, a prestigious event that celebrates innovation and design. The perfect execution of Zeus, its finesse and ingenuity, is a testament to French artistic and technical excellence. Milan Design Week offers a unique opportunity to discover this masterful work in a setting dedicated to creativity and avant-garde.”

Marcello Cattani

Presidente e Amministratore Delegato, Sanofi Italia and Malta

“Sanofi is pleased to present Zeus at Milan Design Week. Fuorisalone is a unique international stage that celebrates innovation, a central value for us. This work perfectly embodies the idea of innovation through science and technology, and we are proud to showcase it in Milan, at an accessible event for everyone, where each visitor can appreciate the uniqueness of this extraordinary creation.”

Artistic Description of the Artwork

Navigating the waters of the Seine during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and now starring at Milan Design Week as part of a European tour by@Sanofi, the innovative global healthcare company that has become a patron of the artwork, ZEUS is a monumental kinetic sculpture conceived, designed, and produced by Atelier blam.

As a pivotal element of theDarknessandSolidarityscenes, this artwork embodies a dynamic interplay of movement and materiality, evoking a sense of collective imagination through the convergence of precision engineering and sculptural finesse. The result of over a year of research and fabrication, this metallic equine form explores the technical and aesthetic possibilities of aluminum: additive manufacturing for the head, hammering techniques for the sculpted curves of the body, and machining for its articulated limbs. Key elements of its anatomy, head and hooves, are exalted through the application of silver leaf, heightening its luminosity and monumental presence, while its legs are anodized to enhance their durability and visual depth. 

Standing1.80 meters at the withers, ZEUS draws inspiration from Eadweard Muybridge’s kinematic studies, embodying a sense of motion frozen in time. Its monolithic aesthetic resonates with the sculptural language ofCharles Ray, a major figure in contemporary American sculpture, reinforcing the tension between dynamism and stillness. 

A hybrid between kinetic sculpture and scenographic artifact,ZEUSis situated at the intersection of contemporary art and engineering innovation. This work interrogates the boundaries between artistic tradition and technological advancement, offering a nuanced reflection on movement, material, and narrative expression. 

The creation of ZEUS is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration within Atelier blam, bringing togetherboilermakers, mechanics, engineers, designers, and architects, whose combined expertise has given life to this singular piece.

Sanofi

We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions.