There exists an enduring and fruitful relationship between wire, the material, and Stefanie Welk, the artist. For more than two decades, she has been creating installations made of wire. These are transparent, light and air-permeable objects – generally large figures – that radiate deep expressiveness in their posture and their gestures.
wire 2016 features an installation of several life-size figures made of welded and painted steel wire called Aeronauts. While individual figures can be distinguished, they seem to penetrate each other. “I see the human being as an open system that is not clearly separated from its environment,” the artist explains.
Her three-dimensional installations radiate energy and dynamics. Flowing into each other, the figures seem frozen for a fraction of a second, only to transform and be released again, reflecting the idea that human beings are also connected to a variety of networks, such as the communication with others through the interchange of ideas.
In addition to this installation, other individual pieces by the artist will be displayed at wire 2016, including figurative as well as abstract works from various thematic areas. Stefanie Welk’s installations are intended not only to inspire – they also leave plenty of room for individual thoughts, while creating a sense of tranquillity in the midst of the trade fair hustle and bustle. Ms Welk has been presenting her latest installations in Düsseldorf regularly since 1996.
