Antje Schmuck

During my diverse walks around Lago Maggiore I was often fascinated by the many kinds of drift wood that were to be found there, especially after flooding.

The years of drifting had often softened their shape; sharp edges had been smoothed and their colour changed by exposure to the sun during long periods out of water. I would pick a piece up to have a closer look.

Once a piece of wood has inspired me for a sculpture to be formed, I am faced with the task of replacing the missing parts with clay.

It is a demanding challenge to include the shrinkage caused by drying and firing of the clay, already at the beginning of the elaboration, and to adjust accordingly. Again and again I am fascinated by the combination of the imperfect, bizarre pieces of wood, which often give even the hint of a certain form, and the partially detailed, lifelike modeling of clay and its glazes, which allow me to create a harmonizing sculpture.