SABINE PIERICK | “THE DEEPER SENSE COMES FROM THE MATERIAL”

Sabine Pierick’s artworks represent an impressive fusion of informal expression and contemporary art. They redefine our understanding of material and play with viewers’ perceptions. Unique pieces emerge through the layering of various stages of work and complex structures. The original elements evolve through continuous transformation.

Pierick exclusively uses materials like coal, copper, and petroleum, which might initially seem rigid. However, these materials acquire remarkable lightness and vitality through modular shaping, perforated structures, and the interplay with incident light. The works unfold in space and undergo continual transformations in response to daylight.

They transcend their material boundaries, appearing gently modeled by the delicate morning light, sculpturally accentuated by the powerful midday sun, and elongated by the shadows of twilight. As the seasons change, new perspectives continuously emerge.

A central aspect of Pierick’s art is her play with viewers’ expectations. At first glance, the works may look like painted images, but upon closer inspection, the inconsistent interplay of light and shadow becomes disconcerting. The light seems to come from multiple directions and both the intensity and coloration of the artwork shift depending on the viewer’s angle. These subtle dynamics bestow the works’ unique liveliness and create a special interaction between the artwork and its audience.

The dynamic changes in space generate a fascinating, vibrant experience that transcends classical perceptions of art. Through her distinct choice of materials, Pierick reflects on the transformation of these materials and their impact on our perception of space and time. Her artworks invite viewers to reconsider the complexities of industrialization and natural resources, stimulating engagement with important ecological issues.

“Art is a step from the visible known to the hidden unknown.”
(K.Gibran)

Sabine Pierick’s works represent an informal expression of contemporary art that invites viewers to reconsider the meaning of materials and engage with their emotions. Unique, individual pieces arise from a series of structured creative processes. Pierick focuses on the subtle changes that emerge when original inaccuracies are amplified, leading to sculptural designs and organic compositions.
The result is a playful interaction with the materials, characterized by repetition and its effects. Individual elements crafted from coal, copper, and petroleum may appear identical and rigid when viewed in isolation, but they exude remarkable lightness and liveliness due to their modular design, openwork structures, and the way light interacts with them.

Pierick’s work expands into space and transcends its material limitations through variations and modifications.
The pieces challenge viewers’ expectations of a painted picture, as the inconsistent casting of light and shadow can be disorienting upon close inspection. Light seems to emanate from various directions, and the intensity and color of the works shift depending on one’s viewpoint.

As viewers move around the pieces, subtle changes occur that endow the works with a unique liveliness. A central theme in Pierick’s art is the play on viewer expectations. At first glance, her works may resemble painted images, yet a closer look reveals the intriguing inconsistencies of light and shadow.
This dynamic interaction creates a captivating experience that extends beyond traditional perceptions of art.

Through her thoughtful choice of materials, Pierick explores their transformation and impact on the perception of space and time. Her artwork encourages viewers to reconsider the complexities of industrial production and natural resources while prompting engagement with ecological issues.

A central theme in Pierick’s art is the play on viewer expectations. At first glance, her works may resemble painted images, yet a closer look reveals the intriguing inconsistencies of light and shadow. This dynamic interaction creates a captivating experience that extends beyond traditional perceptions of art.

SABINE PIERICK

Sabine Pierick is a dynamic visual artist who is celebrated for her remarkable array of artistic expressions across multiple disciplines. Her creative journey is marked by continuous evolution, showcasing her prowess across various techniques and media.

Pierick’s extensive educational background includes rigorous studies in ceramic art, which she pursued in both Germany and North Africa, where she had the privilege of training under a master ceramist. This foundational experience laid the groundwork for her innovative approach to materials. She further honed her skills in silversmithing and goldsmithing in the culturally rich city of Oaxaca, Mexico, while immersing herself in Asian lacquer techniques and sculptural methods. To complete her academic journey, she studied art in Essen, where she expanded her theoretical understanding and practical expertise.
Pierick consistently embarks on a quest for new perspectives and forms of expression in her artistic practice, which seamlessly merges painting and sculpture. Since 2014, she has cultivated a distinctive style characterized by her inventive use of industrial coal, creatively combined with pure copper and vibrant petrol-based hues. In her large-scale works, she meticulously processes coal into various textures, which she produces herself, and integrates it with copper elements to forge visually striking ornamental surfaces.
This material-driven approach showcases her technical skill and reflects a deep engagement with the natural resources that shape our world over time.
Pierick’s artistic vision is profoundly influenced by her early explorations of existentialism, which provided her with a unique lens through which to view humanity and its complexities. Her artworks, especially those that incorporate precious metals like silver and gold, prompt contemplation on the nature of human value and challenge viewers to reflect on societal ideals and norms.

Outside her creative pursuits, Pierick is actively involved in Soroptimist International, an esteemed global organization that advocates for women’s rights and fosters social responsibility. She is committed to empowering others and addressing important social issues through her artistic and community efforts.

“My artistic works always involve unusual materials that address current topics, which are exciting discoveries.
For years, I have been concerned with exploiting resources over time.”

Sabine Pierick’s early engagement with existentialism led to a unique view of the species and the world.
The deeper meaning of her work comes from the material: rationed coal, real copper and the colour petrol. She uses only these materials to create her large-scale works, which unfold their magic in the interplay of visual fascination and depth of content. Beauty is the consolation; the more profound thought contains fear and hope. Sabine Pierick basically follows her natural instinct to want to coax the earth’s inherent beauty out of her, always anew, full of energy, like an innate, insatiable desire for a sensual, creative appropriation of our world. She digs deep into the segment, crushes it with her hands, patinates it, lets nature change, and catapults the earth’s treasures into her own Pierick universe.

“They say art is a solitary pursuit, but nothing could be further from the truth. Every piece created in my studio bears the invisible fingerprints of those who have inspired and challenged me. In times of great social upheaval, my art becomes a mirror reflecting our hopes and fears. It gives form to the unspeakable and a voice to silence. My work emerges from the tension between personal perception and collective experience. art never exists in a vacuum.
It thrives on the interplay of many people, ideas, and energies. It is a living dialogue about the great questions of our time—about identity and transformation, responsibility and hope.
It connects and enriches us all, revealing what lies hidden and shaping what is yet to come. The creation of my works has been shaped by the conviction that art must be more than aesthetic reflection. It can and should open spaces for new perspectives on the pressing issues of our time. In a world of fleeting images and rapid impressions, you create spaces for lingering and reflection. The viewer’s resonance and empathy give my work true and complete meaning.”
-Sabine Pierick

See the full article in Art Market Magazine Issue #100