GEOMETRY OF MATERIAL
Fragments of Life - Heidi Hentze DK
Exhibition 18 August – 17 September 2016
Paper thin organic-geometric constructions in porcelain.
Heidi Hentze investigates porcelain and glaze in poetically folded pieces, that seem like magic.
With inspiration from architecture and origami, she challenges with a superior technical ability the classic slab-technique, material and gravity.
Geometric constructions are meticulously composed of thin clay sheets.
Melting points and temperature in the less controllable firing process add to the piece an organic sensuality, where deformation becomes a beauty of decay, a poetic tale.
An atmosphere of fragile existence and presence of the absent, are often focal points in Heidi Hentze's delicate pieces that hide her secret personal stories. 
HEIDI HENTZE: "The inspiration for this exhibition derives from human fate and living conditions in my own and our time.. News, Facebook, friends, family, homecare job.
Fragments of life stories are picked out, combined, associated and translated into implicit narratives in ceramics.
News media images of bomb shot houses and people fleeing, combined with friends' divorces and broken-up homes, are the focal points for what have later developed into deserted bird nests.The stories have been my starting point, but are not essential.
Since I work with the two unknowns - thin porcelain and crater glaze - it seems that unexpected things will happen in the firing process.
I have allowed myself to be open to the visual changes and give-aways that might occur, although at times I have had to 'compromise' with the intended story and crafted perfectionism.
A free approach to the materials is an amazing process..For this exhibition, I have built four blue diamonds, 'Oppenheimer Blues'.
The shape of them is a combination of the diamond's eternity and flower's impermanence - from bloom to blossom. These are built in a combination of computer drawing and hand-formed slab technique.
The number '4' appears in several of my works. In many Asian countries this figure has the same wording as the word death. 'Tetra Phobia' is a concept.
(Wikipedia: Tetra Phobia is an aversion or fear of the number 4. This superstition usually occurs in East Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea)
The white piece 'Ruder' will be on show in Lacoste Gallery, USA.
For this Danish exhibition, I have build a green set in porcelain, 'Lozengy'.”
In recent years, Heidi Hentze has worked with material research - from simple cylinders to very advanced foldings of graphic constructions, analyzing of building spaces, collocated installations and colours' influence on form geometry. With professional knowledge, doubts and curiosity, she looks towards a philosophical and ethical meaning in her pieces.
Grateful thanks to The Danish Arts Foundation’s Committee for Crafts and Design Project Funding of Heidi Hentze and The Gallery's exhibitions 2016.
Photos of previous pieces:
HEIDI HENTZE was born in 1975. She lives and has her studio on the island of Bornholm.
EDUCATION Glass & Ceramics School - Bornholm (now KADK*, Royal Danish Academy, School of Design) 2006.
Previously exhibition in Ann Linnemann Gallery "FRAGILE" with Bodil Manz, Malene Müllertz and Jane Reumert in 2012 and "MASTER PIECES - miniature" in 2013. In recent years she has participated in several international exhibitions: ”Form.Frei” Gottorf Slot, Slesvig, DE - ”59th Premio Faenza”, International Competition, Italien - ”Ceramics of Europe” Europa-Parlament, Strasbourg, FR - ”10th International Ceramics Competition, Mino”, Japan - ”13th Westerwald Prize 2014”, Höhr-Grenzhausen, DE - ”COLLECT”, Saatchi Gallery, London - ”Fantastic Tales” Brighton, UK - Art Festival 2013, Funasaka, Japan - ”Collect in the Country 2013”, Cultural Connections, UK.. Selected Danish exhibitions are ”The Biennale for Craft and Design 2013” & ”HAVET” ACABs 10-years Anniversary, Copenhagen. AWARDS National Danish Arts Foundation, Danmarks Nationalbank's Anniversary Foundation., Ole Haslund's Artist Award, OJD Foundation..
BIOGRAHY - Heidi Hentze www.heidihentze.dk
Born in 1975
EDUCATION
2002-06 The Glass and Ceramic School, Bornholm, Denmark.
(Now: KADK - *Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design)
WORK EXPERIENCE AND COURSES
2013 Symposium & Artist talks, Gyeonggi int’l Ceramix Biennale, South Korea.
2012-14 Member of the municipality arts council on Bornholm, DK.
2010- Member of ACAB (Arts & Crafts Association Bornholm), DK.
2009 Artist in residence. Sarayacu, Pastaza, Ecuador
2006 Network 06, Guldagergaard, Skælskør, DK.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2016 Danish Talents, Lacoste Galery, Boston, MA, USA.
”Geometry of Material” Solo exhibition, Ann Linnemann Gallery, DK
2015 ”Keramik Europas”. Form Frei, Gottorf Castle, Germany.
”59th Premio Faenza” International Competition of Contemporary Ceramic Art, Italy.
”Ceramics of Europe” Selected, European Parliament, Strasbourg, DE.
2014 ”13th Westerwald Prize 2014” Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany.
”10th International Ceramics Competition, Mino” Japan (Honorable Mention).
”New meets Old” Hjorths Fabrik, Rønne, Bornholm, DK.
”Bornholmske keramikere” Gudhjem Museum, Bornholm, DK.
COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London. CC, UK.
”Fantastic Tales” Danish Contempory Ceramics, Brighton, UK.
2013 Art Festival, Funasaka, Japan.
”Collect in the Country 2013” Cultural Connections CC, UK.
”The Biennale for Craft and Design 2013” Roundtower, Copenhagen, DK.
”Art in Clay” Pottery & ceramics Festival Hatfield House, Cultural Connections, UK.
”MASTERPIECES–miniature” Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, DK.
2012 ”The Sea”” Art&Craft Bornholm 10 years anniversary, Roundtower, Copenhagen, DK.
”FRAGILE” Manz, Müllertz, Reumert & Hentze, Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen, DK.
2011 ”Havet/The Sea” Müllers Pakhus, Thorshavn, Faroe Island.
”Arts and Crafts Award of 1879” Design Museum Denmark, Copenhagen, DK.
2007 ”Network” International Ceramic Museum, Funen, DK.
2006 Form/Design Center, Malmo, Sweden. The Bornholm Art Museum, Rø, DK.
GRANTS & AWARDS
2016 National Danish Arts Foundation, project.
2014 Danmarks Nationalbank's Anniversary Foundation.
Bornholm's Arts Award.
2013 Brødrene E., S. & A. Larsen, travel grant.
Danmarks Nationalbank's Anniversary Foundation.
2012 Ole Haslund's Artist Award, travel grant.
Bornholm's Juried Spring Exhibition Award .
2011 Annie og Otto Johs. Detlefs´ Foundation
Kunsthåndværkerprisen /Arts and Crafts Award, bronze
Arts and Crafts Award, travel grant
REPRESENTATION IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Kirsten Kjær Museet, OJD Fonden, Svanekegårdens Kunst og Kulturforening, MIC - International Ceramics Museum Foundation of Faenza, Italien.
