Cohesion crafted from a diverse medley
- Cathy developed her artistic approach independently
- Nature heavily influences her work, from textures to organic forms
- She enjoys both the thrill of discovering new materials and the tranquility of repetitive work
Cathy Hirchenhahn, a graduate of the Strasbourg School of Decorative Arts, has always been drawn to art. Living by the sea in Brittany today, she finds inspiration in nature and creates works where textures, colours, and organic forms take centre-stage. Her studio, a cabinet of curiosities, is filled with eclectic finds such as plants, furs, algae, and electronic parts that she finds on her daily walks. Cathy creates assembled sculptures that blend the precious with the mundane, flora with fauna, and the past with the present. Her pieces evoke biological wonders through the fusion or contrast of geometry with organic, and craftsmanship with industry. Cathy’s minimalist approach brings harmony to these opposites, revealing what often escapes the eye.
Interview
- What aspects of your work do you enjoy the most?
- I really enjoy the exhilarating initial phase of rapid exploration, discovering materials and their multiple possibilities. There are no limits in this phase. I also appreciate getting lost in the slower, repetitive tasks that provide a meditative sense of well-being.
- Do you use any specific techniques in your work?
- There are no precise or systematic techniques. It is about constantly finding new solutions, a sort of personal concoction that I invent by adapting to the materials and their specifics.
- What is something about your work that people might not typically be aware of?
- To me, my sculptures are abstract works. I strive to eliminate any connotations or references to existing realistic forms, even though an abstract work does not exclude inner imagery of some sort.
- How do you blend tradition and innovation in your work?
- I reveal hidden or neglected aspects by recycling old materials and combining them with contemporary elements, merging contrasts to create a new dialogue between materials and forms.
Cathy Hirchenhahn is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1989
Where
Cathy Hirchenhahn
