MELTING, OVERFLOWING, SHIFTING………….by Helena Gijsbers van Wijk
June 1 - June 28, 2018
Reception: June 1, 2018, 6 - 9 p.m.
“Melting, overflowing, shifting….” is an exhibit of ceramic sculptures that are a part of my latest body of work. While non-representational, these sculptures are rooted in figuration. They are biomorphic, straddling the line between different life forms. They suggest partial bodies, animals, and botanical elements, but – through the creative process – all that is recognizable is either removed or obstructed. They are a result of my continuous effort to bring together different aspects of my visual vocabulary. My goal has been to not only create work that would be visually interesting but also challenge the viewer on an intellectual level.
This body of work addresses existential issues that we as mankind face. There is a great upheaval happening all around us, starting with climate change and subsequent alternations to the Earth’s landscape, to massive waves of immigration that challenge people’s notion of how they perceive their identity, and the one of their communities.
My sculptures force the viewer to face objects that are familiar but at the same time otherworldly, sometimes even repulsive. They suggest that we as humans have to come to terms with the fact that “different” and “foreign” does not always mean ugly, dangerous and evil.
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