Monette Larsen
1984, Solrød, Denmark
Larsen has always been fascinated by the concept of beauty within nature; what makes something beautiful and the characteristics that define it as such. Her work aims to examine the idea that what we perceive as striking and attractive in nature, is linked to our conscious and unconscious recognition of the inherent patterns and structures that are present.
Drawing on the wonders in the living world, Larsen looks at the molecular structure of her subject matter to form the initial foundations for her work; the nanoscale and mathematics which are discovered from close observation. Each of her artworks are intended to be a reflection of this living world, a reminder of the splendour of what surrounds us, with the hope that also, the viewer creates links to their own experiences.
In the artist’s own words;
“My current work is influenced by the underlying structures of corals, their shape, growth and movement in the sea. In my sculptural pieces I explore the mathematics of the coral shape, known as a hyperbolic plane, I create shapes that grow into its own during the process. I add layers of complexity through the making process by refining and altering the piece like the forces of nature alters the perfect model in the natural world.”
Capturing her own ‘hyperbolic plane’ within her artworks is no easy task and Larsen employs crochet to make her initial forms. The process of looped and interwoven yarns is perfectly suited to these complex, curling and expanding shapes. Larsen then hardens her crochet to create a silicone mould from which she can cast a wax version that can be reshaped, refined and carved to add texture.
From here Larsen follows more traditional lost wax casting processes, resulting in yarn and wax being finally replaced by glass. As with any casting process, there is considerable tidying, perfecting and lastly sandblasting, at which point for the artist, the sculpture is finished.
Larsen has exhibited extensively throughout Europe and the UK. She has s in the permanent collections of the Imagine Museum, St Petersburg, Florida, USA, the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, UK and the Glasmuseum Lette, Coesfeld, Germany.
Drawing on the wonders in the living world, Larsen looks at the molecular structure of her subject matter to form the initial foundations for her work; the nanoscale and mathematics which are discovered from close observation. Each of her artworks are intended to be a reflection of this living world, a reminder of the splendour of what surrounds us, with the hope that also, the viewer creates links to their own experiences.
In the artist’s own words;
“My current work is influenced by the underlying structures of corals, their shape, growth and movement in the sea. In my sculptural pieces I explore the mathematics of the coral shape, known as a hyperbolic plane, I create shapes that grow into its own during the process. I add layers of complexity through the making process by refining and altering the piece like the forces of nature alters the perfect model in the natural world.”
Capturing her own ‘hyperbolic plane’ within her artworks is no easy task and Larsen employs crochet to make her initial forms. The process of looped and interwoven yarns is perfectly suited to these complex, curling and expanding shapes. Larsen then hardens her crochet to create a silicone mould from which she can cast a wax version that can be reshaped, refined and carved to add texture.
From here Larsen follows more traditional lost wax casting processes, resulting in yarn and wax being finally replaced by glass. As with any casting process, there is considerable tidying, perfecting and lastly sandblasting, at which point for the artist, the sculpture is finished.
Larsen has exhibited extensively throughout Europe and the UK. She has s in the permanent collections of the Imagine Museum, St Petersburg, Florida, USA, the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, UK and the Glasmuseum Lette, Coesfeld, Germany.
Artist portrait by Valérie Bernardini.
Artworks by the artist
