Artist’s Statement
Fran Bouwman has been sculpting wood for the past thirteen years. While carving her first totemic figure in 1993, she developed an abiding appreciation for wood as a rich and potent medium for her art. The experience was a revelation. Since then, Fran has been using the unique qualities of wood – its smell, grain, natural form and variation - to create an impressive body of work, one that maps out a distinct emotional landscape.
Fran draws inspiration from contemporary figurative bronze sculptors while using the materials and tools of the traditional wood carver. Fran uses this innovative approach to highlight what has become an integral component of her work – the exquisite balance of form and space - space in nature, music, art and conversation. She believes that people grasp the essence of art when granted a moment to breathe – it’s then that the mind and heart have the freedom to discover.
Although Fran’s artistic style is fluid, often combining figurative perspectives with elements of the surreal and abstract, her aim in art always remains steadfast – she wishes to capture a moment or impression of life. Fran wants her viewers to become present in that moment and to simply contemplate it.