GREGOR HILDEBRANDT
Olivia Berckemeyer
Berlin, Germany
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Berlin, Germany
Published 30/07/2014 | Updated 16/03/2017
What is the connection between Berlin-Kreuzberg and Florida? It’s the huge lion contemporary artist Olivia Berckemeyer is working on! It will be shown at Art Basel Miami Beach. „I like the fact that my 400 kg weight sculptures are being transported by air over the ocean.” Olivia smiles. Usually only one way, because art lovers make them stay.
Perishability is one of her themes, power the other. The lion as a symbol of...
What is the connection between Berlin-Kreuzberg and Florida? It’s the huge lion contemporary artist Olivia Berckemeyer is working on! It will be shown at Art Basel Miami Beach. „I like the fact that my 400 kg weight sculptures are being transported by air over the ocean.” Olivia smiles. Usually only one way, because art lovers make them stay.
Perishability is one of her themes, power the other. The lion as a symbol of potency made of wax unites both of these attitudes in one sculpture. The wax model was sculpted completely free, even without images as a reference. Once complete, it will be cast in bronze. This technique adds another layer to her philosophy – to make the obvious ephemerality eternal.
Olivia became famous for her eerie ships, which could also be perfect collectibles for Johnny Depp. We are happy to have several of them in our collection, as well as pieces from her series of „Apocalyptical Riders“, which was inspired by Albrecht Duerer and the Bible.
Talking about air freight: Olivia Berckemeyer is also sculpting aeroplanes that could be mistaken for desktop accessories of airline offices from former times, but with a twist, her planes planes exited the hemisphere and came back, melted!
Seeing all this gnarly and creepy work, I must remember to ask her next time, why is it that she is also sculpting roses - and moreover - why these don’t even have any thorns...
What is it about your studio space that inspires you?
The light!
What sounds, scents and sights do you encounter while in your studio?
Music
What is your favourite material to work with? How has your use of it evolved throughout your practice?
Bronze
What themes do you pursue?
The contradictions of all things, the yes and no together as one.
What advice has had the biggest impact on your career?
"Art is beautiful, but requires a lot of work." Karl Valentin
If you could install your art absolutely anywhere, where would that be?
In the hall of mirrors in Versailles or in the sixteenth chapel of the Vatican, but without tourists.
If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
Nature
If you weren´t an artist, what would you be doing?
Maybe I would be an environmental activist with Sea Shepherd
Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago + New York | http://www.richardgraygallery.com/artists/olivia-berckemeyer/
Michael Fuchs Galerie, Berlin | http://www.michaelfuchsgalerie.com/de/kuenstler/olivia-berckemeyer.html
