Thomas Junghans
American
Thomas Junghans (b. 1956, Recklinghausen) is a German artist renowned for his abstract sculptures in stone, wood, and bronze. Primarily focusing on torsos and primal portraits, his works are characterized by a raw, expressionistic style that blends a sense of the primitive with geometric, cubic forms. Junghans’s sculptures are monumental and striking, exuding a robust and commanding presence. His process is one of intuitive, often visceral creation, where the material itself guides the final form.
Junghans describes his approach as a "controlled sort of drunkenness," a state of mind that enables him to push through the moments of creative paralysis that often accompany the sculptural process. He is acutely aware of the delicate balance needed in his work—one false move, and the tension or composition of a piece could be lost or even destroyed. His sculptures, though seemingly simple in their rough-hewn quality, carry an inherent sense of grace and power, evoking an archaic, almost timeless presence.
Drawing from imagination rather than direct observation, Junghans’s work emphasizes the independence of the sculpture itself. It is through this imaginative process, free from the constraints of reality, that his pieces gain their unique character. In both his sculptures and ink drawings, Junghans continues to explore the intersection of form, material, and emotional energy, creating works that resonate with an enigmatic, almost mythical quality.
Junghans describes his approach as a "controlled sort of drunkenness," a state of mind that enables him to push through the moments of creative paralysis that often accompany the sculptural process. He is acutely aware of the delicate balance needed in his work—one false move, and the tension or composition of a piece could be lost or even destroyed. His sculptures, though seemingly simple in their rough-hewn quality, carry an inherent sense of grace and power, evoking an archaic, almost timeless presence.
Drawing from imagination rather than direct observation, Junghans’s work emphasizes the independence of the sculpture itself. It is through this imaginative process, free from the constraints of reality, that his pieces gain their unique character. In both his sculptures and ink drawings, Junghans continues to explore the intersection of form, material, and emotional energy, creating works that resonate with an enigmatic, almost mythical quality.
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