ASTRID HUISMAN-BIEMANS, ARTIST

MASTERS GALLERY highlights weekly art works by prominent artists. Astrid Huisman-Biemans makes bronze sculptures dance and paintings come to life. Friendship and togetherness are recurring themes and especially the essence of the beauty of life is emphasized in her work.Text: Larissa Schaule Jullens
Image: Astrid Huisman-Biemans

My favorite bag

"There she sits. Confident in her elegant dress, looking around her with one arm leaning on her knee. Around that same arm she carries a charming bag. The bronze sculpture My favorite bag evokes so much recognition. When were you yourself looking around with your bag on your arm? It is a daily phenomenon: a girl with a big, mini, fancy, sporty, casual, elegant bag. A going out bag, work bag, picnic bag, meeting bag... How extensive is that bag collection? Anyway, she undeniably has her favorite bag. And this bag tells so much. What is in her bag?"

Join me for a cuppa

"Come and sit with me. Who are you? Whether you are familiar to me or not doesn't matter. I am simply inviting you. Cozy, I have several cups and saucers in my hand. Would you like coffee or tea? We can enjoy it together and if you feel like having a conversation, we'll talk. If you wish silence, that's fine too. Maybe just the two of us, or three or four of us. I have more cups. The more the merrier. In short, this girl invites you and you may sit there as you are and as you want to be. This is a bronze sculpture. Sitting in all her freedom and in a breezy dress. With her hair pulled up, she sips her coffee and senses her surroundings. She is relaxed. This is how you want to be invited, isn't it?"

Silent moment

"This bronze sculpture makes the viewer look, guess and discover. In her elegant dress with a long coat over it. Or is it a short coat? She sits there, looking around her, under an umbrella. Or is it an umbrella? On one foot she wears a summer mitten, on her other foot a boot. All seasons long she sits there. With rain and with sunshine. She seeks her quiet moment. Visible are her long legs. Long legs are recognizable in my sculptures. Legs have the ability to move forward through life and with long legs you get extra strength to move forward. In this I feel future, confidence and can look forward. On the other hand, I see long legs as an enrichment that not everything has to be perfect and everyone can be who they are. Beauty is mainly in imperfection. My sculptures have their own personal signature because of its form and structure. Movement and balance are recognizable features in my sculptures. Specific details of physical and mechanical movements are worked out as if the sculptures are standing in the moment to do something."

View the Astrid-Huisman Biemans website here.