Andreas Senoner
Exploring the Essence of Transformation through Mixed-Media Sculpture
Andreas Senoner is a sculptor who captures the essence of transformation through his intricate mixed-media sculptures. His works are characterized by expressive details of human figures and gestures that seem transfixed in time during mysterious processes of metamorphosis. Senoner's sculptures explore themes such as heritage, stratification, and metamorphosis, delving into the relationships between the individual and the mutable context in which they exist.
The Florence-based artist uses materials that are rich in cultural significance, incorporating textures like thorns or spikes, insect-bored timber, or saturated paint that induces tension. The sculptor carefully forms the contours of muscles and limbs in response to the natural grain of each piece of wood, and works can take several weeks to complete. Senoner is fascinated by the essence of wood, and the material has become a permanent feature in his artistic practice. Each piece of wood tells a unique story, and he brings out the inherent beauty and character of the wood in his sculptures.
Many of his sculptures reference classical art history, emphasizing the passing of time. For example, one of his sculptures features a life-like human arm sprouting thorns, representing the duality of beauty and pain. In another work, a figure appears from beneath a cocoon-like cloak of organic material, symbolizing transformation and metamorphosis.
Senoner uses feathers in many of his sculptures, as they have strong symbolism and are an integral part of rituals and celebrations in many cultures. Feathers represent lightness and freedom, creating layers like an intangible and delicate skin or shell that still shields the represented individual from the outside world. Contrasting textures and associations of materials like ancient walnut, beeswax, or lichen parallels his interest in the dualities of interior and exterior experiences.
Andreas Senoner's mixed-media sculptures are a reflection of his fascination with transformation, heritage, and stratification. He has developed a unique artistic language that incorporates natural materials and traditional sculptural processes to create works that are both beautiful and thought-provoking. His sculptures captivate the viewer with their intricate details and expressive gestures, inviting them to contemplate the complexities of the human experience.