Hanka Wolterstorff was born in The Netherlands but has lived and worked in Suriname for the last twenty years. In these years, she has been creating and exhibiting very beautiful ceramics. The statuettes, sculptures of up to a meter in height of Wolterstorff are abstract, curvaceously shaped with strong dynamics and beautiful colors. The finish is smooth and the colors are whimsically applied in different oxides such as dark iron, green copper oxide or yellow manganese.
Hanka Wolterstorff who is a professionally trained ceramicist. Wolterstorff has never been interested in creating realistic images in ceramics. Her work is always abstract and she creates three dimensional shapes .Her technique involves the cutting of a large piece of clay into a particular shape, which she leaves to dry partially. In the next step she cuts out shapes and subsequently creates a statuette by pressing them together in order to ensure a secure attachment. These creations are then baked in an oven at high temperatures and are then called bisquit. They are then baked for a second time in order to provide them with a waterproof glaze to which the oxides give their magnificent colors.
“Hanka Wolterstorff has been creating and exhibiting very beautiful ceramics for 25 years now but only recently has a collection of hers been added to the Readytex Art Gallery. The statuettes, sculptures of up to a meter in height of Wolterstorff are abstract, curvaceously shaped with strong dynamics and beautiful colors. The statuettes are asymmetrical as well as harmonious. The finish is smooth and the colors are whimsically applied in different oxides such as dark iron, green copper oxide or yellow manganese. Lately also royal blue seems to be a particular favorite of hers.
Hanka Wolterstorff who is a professionally trained ceramicist has rightfully earned the award for most outstanding work during the National Art Exhibit of 2004. She has never been interested in creating realistic images in ceramics. Her work is always abstract and she creates three dimensional shapes which have to satisfy her idea of aesthetics. While creating a statuette she has no predefined idea or design in mind but just some idea for the sub shapes. Her technique is that she rolls out a piece of clay into a large pancake like shape which she leaves to dry partially.
In the next step she cuts out shapes and subsequently creates a statuette by pressing them together in order to ensure a secure attachment. These creations are then baked in an oven at high temperatures and are then called bisquit. They are then baked for a second time in order to provide them with a waterproof glaze to which the oxides give their magnificent colors.” Source: http://www.readytexartgallery.com/hankawolterstorff/
