Claudia Manperl
Degrees of Abstraction
October 5 - October 26, 2010
Reception:
Thursday October 7, 2010 6-8 PM
Press Release
In majestic, poised and sensual bronze sculptures, Claudia Manperl strives towards an understanding of the essential feminine form. By contrasting full and rounded shapes with glimpses into concave, womblike interior spaces, the Madrid-based artist ventures beyond conventional metaphors of female fecundity to search for more intangible and mysterious undercurrents of identity. Though she cites the important influence of British abstract sculptor Henry Moore, her shining, stripped forms inevitably evoke many works by Constantin Brancusi. Unlike those predecessors, however, Manperl often transforms her material until it becomes unrecognizable.
She creates tactile illusions by applying patina to her bronze forms: some pieces glow a warm, wooden brown, others appear patterned like classical marble statues. This alchemical quality to her material echoes the glossy, swooping, almost aquatic textures she wrests from it. Movement, transformation and cyclical evolution emerge as uniting themes in Manperl’s practice, with strong circular patterns conveying the sense of a whole that is always changing. This dynamic stability is a subtle but stunning achievement.
Artist Statement
My work is a constant search for the synthesis of forms, playing with space. My main theme is THE WOMAN, her thoughts, feelings and the special magic she employs to face life. When I began sculpting, some people told me my artistic expression suggests a female parallel to Henry Moore. This encouragement pushed me to explore his art deeply, a connection which developed my natural and spontaneous artistic expression. Later, winning first prize in a contest gave me further energy to create. My work is natural and spontaneous, without preconceptions or previous designs. I let go and flow. I express what I feel, my vibrations and the energy that I received from others, nature and Life. My style is a mix of realism and abstraction, a Neo-realism, and I take special care of the different colours that I give the bronze. I live full of life, happiness and energy.
Invitation to the exhibition
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