Before I knew what Art Nouveau was I was already drawing using organic forms, nature, and using the figure in this environment. During my college years, now that we are on the subject, I was unable to relate myself with the style. I guess I was too focused in following directions and finishing projects than finding myself and my style. A few years ago I began creating again and trying to figure out myself in order to answer the question, ‘What is your style?’ In a conversation with a colleague she made me look at pictures of art nouveau. That answered my question. My style is art nouveau. There is no doubt about it. There is no shame either. We understand each other well.
Art Nouveau was a movement that appeared at the end of the 1880s and disappeared at the beginning of the 1900s with art deco. I see art nouveau as a new baroque with less clouds and fabric but with more nature. That’s just my definition. That energy of the baroque is still latent in art nouveau. On the other hand, I believe art nouveau gave a new life to the human figure of the renaissance. The figure in art nouveau uses the figure somewhere between renaissance and baroque. The figure is involved and immersed in the nature and organic shapes but not completely dominated by all the energy it portrays but more like a calmed balance.
I was hooked on art nouveau even before I knew about it. I use the ‘whiplash’ through all my work. It made me feel at times that I was born in the wrong time. Now that society is more and more inclined to the organic and natural, and nature I think I’m in the right time. My new collection in process is more art nouveau than never before. The new bas-reliefs will not only be on a wall, they will dominate the wall. The sculptures abide with nature and embrace it in a rhythm of waves, vines, leaves. The figure rests and celebrates this environment. I can’t wait to have this new collection complete and revealed.
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