December 17, 2021 / Spotlight on Art
Hope by
Jana Büttner
As clay shrinks over time, it begins to crack, much like our human skin weathers when exposed to the elements. My work’s connection to human existence became clear. We humans are strong and resilient, that's how nature created us. We are part of it. We are no different from what surrounds us, and we are part of the constant cycle of decline and growth.
Jana Büttner, "Hope", Clay cast in resin, H70 x W58 x D25, 2020
Every person has a different experience viewing a piece of art; some experience visual pleasure – others see themselves, creating an instant connection with the work. Jana Büttner strives to encompass all this in her sculpture, using the human figure as a vehicle to express herself.
Jana’s sculpture Hope was awarded the Tiranti Prize in the FACE 2021 Competition.
We hope you enjoy learning more about this wonderful portrait by Jana!
Jana working on her sculpture “Hope” from life
“This portrait showcases a strong-minded man, willful, with a clarity in his eyes, but also a man who has suffered; his body language conveys he is lost and trying to hold himself together.
This sculpture was started before the pandemic, and I had almost completed it when we went into lockdown. Because of the sudden closure of the studios, I had to leave it behind, not knowing how long I would be gone. I was constantly worried the clay would dry out and crumble to pieces.
As clay shrinks over time, it begins to crack, much like our human skin weathers when exposed to the elements. My work’s connection to human existence became clear. We humans are strong and resilient, that’s how nature created us. We are part of it. We are no different from what surrounds us, and we are part of the constant cycle of decline and growth. Our bodies will fall apart in the end.
Detail of “Hope”
Detail of “Hope”
When I was able to return to the studio and unwrap the sculpture, it had cracked around the neck and the hands, but it was still in good shape. I was able to fix everything, but I related to the cracks in my sculpture in a new way: from feeling lost and torn apart during the stress of lockdown, I came back, facing the future with hope.” – Jana Büttner
More about Jana Büttner
Jana’s sources of inspiration are not just in the visible experience she finds in nature, but also listening and reading. She finds inspiration in music and stories, either written down or told by people she meets. These ideas stay in her mind; some are set aside; others grow into images, and eventually into 3 dimensional sculpture that one can touch. How her ideas develop fascinates her.
Jana feels a deep connection with the clay medium, because it gives her the opportunity to express herself with her bare hands. She likes simplifying certain parts of the sculpture, experimenting with different textures and blending forms together. Appreciating the final forms in a sculpture is like reading a book, you don’t have to read every word to understand the overall meaning. “Sometimes, it’s enough to read the first and the last letter for your brain to know what the word means.” Jana tries to attempt the same thing while sculpting through blending edges and unifying forms.
The beauty of working from life is that the pose constantly changes as the model moves. Although this is challenging, it also frees the sculptor to choose which moment she wishes to capture. This choice can range from vulnerable to powerful. Life is constantly moving.
Jana’s ultimate goal is it to provoke emotions and encourage empathy in the viewer. The viewer should be engaged by the work, so she/he can identify themselves within it. The three- dimensionality and the space that sculptures occupy can create a natural presence. This has the potential to allow for an emotional connection with the viewer. Figurative works in particular can speak to us precisely because we can recognize ourselves. That is why Jana works with live models: each viewer can find themselves to a degree in her work. Jana’s work is represented in private collections in Dubai, Germany, London, Austria, Czech.
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A video feature on FAA's Director of the Sculpture Drawing Program
One of the other great things about painting still life is that is humble and forgiving. You can set up a still life anywhere. It can be as simple or complex as you want.
