Vanessa Willemse

Beschreibung

Vanessa Willemse is a sculptor that purely works with bronze and clay. Her oeuvre is filled with women that take up various roles ranging from the divine and regal to the humble and mundane. The vertical sculpture such as Madame Montbenon, Buddhame, From Shanghai with love or Waiting for a Sign stand majestically. They are reminiscent of the statues of female deities or royalties that exudes a sense of maternal authority and grace. Meanwhile, the pieces portraying characters in a resting position such as Kintsugi or La Sirène suggest gentleness and sensitivity. Each pieces are different manifestations of the multifaceted aspects of the feminine – all pay homages to her strength and beauty. The artist’s works seem to be heavily inspired by female archetypes that existed across different cultures throughout history. African masks, Hellenic sculptures, Japanese and Egyptian nobilities, ancient fertility goddesses and serene expressions of female bodhisattvas among several others all find their way as either motifs or subjects in her sculptures. It is interesting to note that her references were first crafted by the artisans and craftsmen of these early civilizations, more often than not, using the same medium that Vanessa Willemse uses herself, bronze and clay. Her eclectic appropriation of these various semblan- ces seem to be a gesture of interpreting the narrative through a woman’s perspective. What story her sculptures tells then is the representation of the woman as a proud and influential force across history. They are traits related to the feminine representations as well: the earth as the archetypal mother from where generous gifts of bounty and sustenance come from. Like a tree springing forth, the artist’s works first came from the earth. From the rich soil, these sculptures rise and take shape through the artist’s creative energy and labor. Like the fruits we eat to address our hunger, Vanessa Willemse’s work are gifts that she offers to the world. Choose to accept it and it will fill your soul with joy. Patricia Zenklusen - 2018 ARTBOX.GALLERY

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