Susanne Ring (DE)

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne Ring - Beginning and end (2022)
partly glazed ceramics, textile, wood
3 elements
50 x 34 x 34 cm / 47 x 32 x 28 cm / 70 x 47 x 47 cm
courtesy the artist & Galerie Fontana, Amsterdam
photography Gert Jan van Rooij

Susanne RingBeginning and end (2022)

Susanne Ring – Beginning and end (2022)

An astonishing trio rising up at De Oude Warande – this is the work of Susanne Ring (b. Germany, 1966). Three ceramic, partly glazed busts stand on sawn-off wooden trunks among the trees in the park. Particularly within the context of GODHEAD, they are reminiscent of votive statues made in veneration of real or mythical figures.

Ring’s sculptures have Janus heads – with a face on both the front and the back. In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of beginnings and endings, a god with two faces. In our own era, the Janus head refers to the fact that there are two sides, often opposing, to people’s characters.

For her sculpture, Ring draws freely from ancient cultures, tales and myths. But her references are never literal. She is fascinated by whatever deviates from the norm, so her figures are characterised by cracks, deformities, amputations and contorted, expressive faces. Ring’s works symbolise human relationships, emotions, fears, dreams and desires. The figures are not threatening. Due to their format, generally smaller than life size, an¬¬¬¬¬d their imaginative, somewhat playful appearance, they may look peculiar but at the same time they also seem kind and gentle. Ring combines her figures in ensembles, which can take on varying forms. This means that new interpretations of interpersonal relationships are constantly created. The perception of the space and being able to walk around the ensembles and experience them from all sides is important to Ring.

Her choice to work with ceramics is connected to the specific character of the material. It is associated with classic arts and crafts, but it is still used for all manner of purposes today. Her way of working, though, is far from commonplace. She mixes her clay with other materials, such as wood, porcelain and cement. Starting from a basic idea, she also allows herself to be guided, during the process of creation, by chance and by associations that the material suggests to her as it takes shape.