—

Being

a woman

and

an artist

in the

twenty-first

century.

—

 

From an early age, Vanessa was already inspired to express herself through the prism of art. In her beloved Amsterdam, she continued exploring new artistic forms whilst pursuing a professional career as communications trainer and life coach. All driven by her interest in people, their behaviour and energy.

 

Travelling to and spending more time in Switzerland, greatly influenced her passion for the art of sculpting. Thus, she chose to follow her heart and to fulfil her dream to focus entirely on her artistic career. The result is a collection of sculptures, paintings and objets d’art reflecting her journey as a person and artist.

Vanessa sculpts from her feminine perspective, mainly in clay and bronze, translating into volume her experiences and feelings, as well as her questions as a woman. A work of art about the intimate, about her relationship with herself and her heritage as a Dutch artist and above all as a woman in a world of perpetual changes.

She expressed the world. Her world. Her universe. With her eyes. With her hands. She sculpted it. Its contours. Its inhabitants. Its enchantments. A whole collection of characters. Each with its own uniqueness. Of simplicity. Of magic. Of presence. She gave them volume. In clay. In bronze. To the sound of their silence. They make their mark. Standing out. Affirmative. With their presence. With their patina.

Vanessa sculpts her life and self, through ballet, her passion for dance, and the prism of her art, transforming her experiences and feelings. Her life is the raw material for her work. Her dreams and spirituality are her inspiration. Resulting in a collection of figures, like a memory book of some of the milestones throughout her life’s journey. As well as the special souls who have accompanied her on her path, or continue to play an important role, many of whom she has translated into sculptures.

Vanessa’s world is rooted in the tradition of Dutch painting. Subtly saturated colours. Worked patinas. Faces sculpted in clear light. The whole Dutch school. But not only. Travelling Holland, international and curious. About the world. Of its cultures. Africa. South America. Asia. Vanessa travels through her work, with her characters. In spirit with artists dear to her heart. Alberto Giacometti, Gustave Klimt, Wallace Ting, Van Dongen, among others.

 

— — —

 

 

I can feel the crowd, the energy, the buzzing, the exciting moment approaching, to enter the revelry, the celebration of life. It is my time to shine. I have thought of everything, down to the smallest detail, and more. On the inside, I feel the little girl in me, on the outside, the beautiful mature woman. The moment is near, of naked truth. I feel powerful, I am transparent. I let my light shine, before the light shines on me, as I am ready to be seen for who I am, to attract what I am. I love the beautiful and the true, I am my splendour and my true face. I have arrived. Let’s party.

— Vanessa Willemse, ‘La Verdad’ (‘The Truth’ in Spanish)

 

— — —

 

 

Sketching

Clay preparation

Creating

Additional touch

Refining

 

Creating mold

Creating wax model

Final creative touch

 

Wax retouching

From mold…

…to bronze

Freshly casted

Working on patina

Edition’s marking