Welcome to the Jungle! is on view at Keramion Foundation, Frechen
May 23 – September 29, 2024
Welcome to the Jungle! is an exhibition that approaches the central theme of the “conditio humana” from various perspectives. The “jungle” serves as a powerful metaphor for the impenetrable web that constantly questions the conditions and circumstances of human existence. The exhibition focuses on female artists who illuminate this theme with their unique artistic perspectives. Their ceramic works embody the fragile beauty as well as the strength inherent in the relationship between humans and nature.
Keiyona C. Stumpf (Germany)
Keiyona C. Stumpf draws her artistic inspiration from the inexhaustible wealth of natural phenomena. With her organically abstracted form language, she strives to make the essence of the living tangible. Her works reflect the dynamics and fluid transitions that are omnipresent in nature. By merging abstraction and organic form, she succeeds in embodying the fundamental principles of life and constant change in her artworks.
Isa van Lier (Netherlands)
Isa van Lier invites viewers to immerse themselves in a world full of colours and shapes, feeling as if they are on a universal playground. Her art aims to open our minds and hearts to a childlike curiosity, encouraging us to discover the world through the eyes of a child. Van Lier’s art is an invitation to leave the hectic everyday life behind and enter a realm of tranquility and intuitive experience. Through the use of playful elements and harmonious compositions, she creates an atmosphere where one feels both secure and inspired.
Pascale Klingelschmitt (France)
Pascale Klingelschmitt’s porcelain works are heavily inspired by scientific concepts and unfold in glass containers reminiscent of the precision and fascination of laboratory experiments. These glass vessels provide a stage for forms whose origins cannot be clearly determined. The forms within the glass vessels are partly recognizable and partly vague and indeterminate, prompting viewers to use their imagination to interpret their meaning. This ambiguity questions the living and challenges us to reflect on the nature of life and our perception of it.
Ulrike Uschmann (Germany)
In Ulrike Uschmann’s porcelain works, the hand plays a central role. It acts as a symbol of action and the potential of the future, as everything we envision is realized through the body and especially through the hands. The hands are not only tools of creation but also embodiments of the transition from thought to deed. Uschmann’s works reflect a world in a constant state of flux—a world of transitional states and fleeting moments.
Mendy Arp (Germany)
Mendy Arp’s artistic practice is characterized by an exploration of complex and rich structures. Arp creates artworks distinguished by the constant interplay between organic natural forms and cultural constructs. In her works, there is a fascinating interaction where culture and nature permeate and influence each other. Arp investigates the dynamics of intrusion, aggression, and symbiosis, examining how cultural elements overlay natural forms and how nature, in turn, absorbs and transforms cultural influences.
Cristina Fiorenza (Italy/Austria)
Cristina Fiorenza intensely engages with the concepts of “transience” and “humanity” in her works. Fiorenza’s pieces evoke masterpieces of human engineering or archaeological finds from a future society. Her compositions are both organic and full of contrasts, combining plant elements with industrial components to create unique sculptures that invite viewers to ponder the temporality and permanence of life.
Nausika Raes (Belgium)
Nausika Raes often describes herself as a “ceramic florist.” She creates a delicate world characterized by floral and natural abundance. Her artworks are modern interpretations of classic herbarium collections and the fascinating wonder cabinets of the Victorian era. Raes’ porcelain works invite viewers to pause and discover the hidden beauty of nature with mindfulness and care.
Sophie Giet (Belgium)
Giet’s works combine the traditional craftsmanship of ceramics with modern, urban influences. She utilizes the expressive power of language and cultural symbols to convey deeper meanings, inviting viewers to look at the world around them from new perspectives. Sophie Giet’s art is a vibrant dialogue between form and content, merging the ordinary and the extraordinary. She challenges us to recognize and celebrate the beauty and diversity in our thoughts and emotions.
Jiyoun Shim (Korea/Germany)
Nature is at the heart of Jiyoun Shim’s artistic ceramic and porcelain works, interpreted through her vivid imagination. Shim creates a unique, organic world, transforming it into aesthetically pleasing objects. These creations invite viewers to delve deeply into her imaginative natural world. Her works are characterized by impressive detail and a vibrant color palette, inviting close exploration and discovery.
Text by Klaus Gutowski
Contact
info@keramion.de
Keramion Foundation
Bonnstrasse 12
50226 Frechen
Germany
