helen dahl hansen

dog in lime-green glazed ceramics lifting hind leg

close-up of same dog

Bravado I, stoneware, 2007, 55x51x43cm

Sculpting for me is a constant struggle between the virtual ideas in my brain and the trivial realities of gravity. I'm a hands-on person, I like to sculpt with my fingers in clay - which is a material wonderfully responsive to the touch, but sadly disposed to the pull of gravity.

dog in blue glazed ceramics lying on its back

Zest, stoneware, 2007, 85x35x38cm

These sculptures with dogs as a subject were my attempt, begun in 2007, to explore the limits to what I can model spontaneously in clay while still being able to fire the original clay model - thus producing a fired original rather than a casting. Each piece is unique, there are no two alike.

og in red/black glazed ceramics, sitting begging, viewed from behind same dog, viewed sideways

Tid-bit, stoneware, 2007, 55x40x40cm

The sculptures are all hollow, made up of pieces of rolled clay slabs built around a core that burns away during firing, and are all life-size - i.e. around the size of a puppy to a small or medium size dog.

dog in bright pink/dark green glazed ceramics,on two hind feet begging

Tickled Pink I, stoneware, 2007, 55x70x30cm

The sculptures were inspired by my model, Lucas, a fox terrier.

dog in lemon yellow glazed ceramics, standing, begging

same dog, front view

Riveted, stoneware, 2007, 60x56x28cm

Dogs that are kept as pets are of course privileged compared to dogs that live on the street. They are kept, fed, cared for, loved - we sometimes forget that they retain their canine nature. Lucas, my model, retains his nature more than most - as he is allowed to roam as he pleases and has never known neither collar nor leash. It is his dogs' zest for life, his very eloquent body language, that I try to convey in my sculptures, rather than the characteristics of a fox terrier per se.

dog in red/black glazed ceramics, lying half asleep