About GWAM1999

GWAM1999 is the artistic universe of David Carmona, an artist and designer based in Marseille, France.

The project took shape in 2021 through salvaged sneakers and clothing, dismantled and transformed into bags, balaclavas and eyewear. With a background in graphic design, David built his practice through experimentation, bringing his drawings off the screen and into physical form.

Since then, this approach has expanded into jewellery, transformed electronic objects and wearable sculptures. A common thread runs through these creations: taking a familiar object into another world, changing its silhouette, its purpose and the way we perceive it.

Today, this exploration draws on the forms and textures of the natural world. Aquatic silhouettes, amphibian figures and fungal growths become sculptural pieces that inhabit technical equipment. Optical sights take on the presence of creatures, while organic compositions appear to grow directly from mounting rails, bringing a sense of life, curiosity and wonder into a highly codified environment.

These pieces continue an exploration of contrasts: nature and industry, the brutal and the delicate, the weapon and the jewel. The object becomes a medium for personal expression, chosen as much for the story it tells as for the feeling it evokes.

The process now brings together digital sculpting, 3D printing, assembly and hand painting. Each creation moves from drawing to volume, then into material and colour, with close attention to textures, details and how it fits the object it transforms.

Upcycling laid the foundations of GWAM1999. Today, that spirit of transformation continues through new materials and processes, developing a distinctive visual language across different mediums.

From the first deconstructed sneakers to the creatures of today, GWAM1999 is building a world where objects can shed their skin.