About Lene Purkær Stefansen's expressive bronze sculptures
By Kirsten-Marie Hedeland, TV host of "Kunst for Tiden" and writer for Kunstavisen
Watch the broadcast: Kunst for tiden - udsendelse
"We are only complete human beings when we experience and are able to handle both the light and dark sides that life brings. Complete human beings are in balance, a balance created when we cross small and large irregularities on life's path." This is what Lene Purkær Stefansen says, creating her sculptures based on this line of thought about life's small and large events, and out of her own experiences and thoughts.
Love and presence are important elements for Lene. Her sculptures revolve around love, from which life and joy spring. She weaves in the elements that make us human, and she does it with charm, humor, and empathy, which evokes warm feelings in us, the beholders of her intense and positive works.
When observing Lene Purkær Stefansen's works, a pleasant calm spreads within, and one feels at ease. They are perfectly formed and exquisite in all their simplicity. The expression is not embellished, but kept in a tight, timeless pocket, where simplicity provides calm and the opportunity for contemplation.
Her sculptures are at once elegant and yet with an unspoiled and slightly raw expression. The balance between these two contrasts is very delicate. In the bronze sculptures, the understanding of the beautiful material's glow and possibilities is emphasized.
Lene clearly puts massive energy into the design and narrative and does not compromise on her work. Her sculptures reveal a self-critical attitude and determination. There is no doubt to be found in the works. They are very harmonious in composition, and Lene displays great professionalism and a beautiful narrative unfolding in her design.
There is a good interplay between stillness, movement, narrative, and action in Lene's sculptures. She portrays a loving reality, where we are embraced by intimacy, presence, and love. We find ourselves in a space of recognition, where the works speak to our immediate feelings of intimacy. They are shaped and modeled with great skill, dedication, and desire, which constantly drives Lene Purkær Stefansen forward in the process, from which she continues her fine development as a sculptor and communicator of life's large and small events, for better or worse.
