Marian Kievits’ (1944-2006) sculptures bring precocious and endearing characters to life. Her bronze human figures all share an indestructible light heartedness; they are totally engrossed in whatever they are occupied with. Humour absolutely permeates this artist’s work. Kievits,
herself, also feels the freedom that her figures radiate in her use of material. She sees herself as a real “shapes person”. Clay is the perfect material for her to express herself because it is mouldable. Where a painter must always commence work from a white surface, clay can be thoughtlessly plied. The artist makes the figures move so freely and they are so expressive in their actions that you almost forget they are caste in bronze. Every single one of the bronze figures are trying to survive, but in a humorous way. There is, for instance, the young swimmer that is trying really hard to dive into the waves and the gossiping women that no-one can interrupt. The power of survival is united with a zest for life in her sculptures and it is the humorous way in which Kievits knows how to depict these existential themes that make her sculptures so unique.
Education: autodidact
