'Artist of the month'......April 2021
'Voice' of this month on Lost In Jewellery Magazine is artist
Peter Bauhuis
Peter Bauhuis is an artist, goldsmith and author. His work encompasses jewelry,
implements and objects, but he has also created installations and published several books.
Combining these diverse pursuits, he has created a multifaceted oeuvre thatstands as an expression of his artistic curiosity.
A focal point of his work is casting various metal alloys to craft jewelry and objects,
but it is the stories inherent in these objects that interest him most.
implements and objects, but he has also created installations and published several books.
Combining these diverse pursuits, he has created a multifaceted oeuvre thatstands as an expression of his artistic curiosity.
A focal point of his work is casting various metal alloys to craft jewelry and objects,
but it is the stories inherent in these objects that interest him most.
Peter Bauhuis, NEOPHYSALIA–Ringe 2008
Silber, Gold 600
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The Gallium Treasure of
Obertraun 600 B.C. collection
of finger- arm- and neckrings
made out of gallium
presentation in the Bavarian
State Collection for
Archeology, 2011
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Peter Bauhuis has often revisited archaeological themes.
He draws on antiquity, prehistory and early history as inspiration for artistic
narratives centered on objects cast mostly by way of the lost-wax process, or cire-perdue.
Bauhuis weds archaeology to art to explore the nature of objects, their meanings and explanations.
In doing so, he asks, “What do we see and what does what we see mean?
He draws on antiquity, prehistory and early history as inspiration for artistic
narratives centered on objects cast mostly by way of the lost-wax process, or cire-perdue.
Bauhuis weds archaeology to art to explore the nature of objects, their meanings and explanations.
In doing so, he asks, “What do we see and what does what we see mean?
Artist Peter Bauhuis, Foto Fred Kroh; courtesy Gallery Funaki
Interview with the artist
Interview with Peter Bauhuis
1. Where is your inspiration coming from ?
Anything can be. Both art or natural museums, music, walking in cities or on mountains, all kind of information found in newspapers or the internet that raise my curiosity, the work of other artists, books, nature or culture, not translated 1:1 into work, but forming a rhizomatic network from which eventually new ideas emerge.
2. What are you trying to communicate with your Artwork ?
My work are investigations on beauty and human behaviour. How do we see art, how do we react, what makes us believe in values? What is the role of objects and their stories in perceiving the world? I achieve this with my three-dimensional artworks as well as with exhibitions and publications, which I see as autonomous works of art.
3. Which material do you prefer to use and why ?
Almost all of my work is metal cast in the lost wax technique. In casting, the archaic nature of working with liquid metal is appealing - but it is also the preliminary work in wax that allows a rapidity and directness that cannot be achieved when working directly in metal. Three-dimensional sketches can thus be transformed into metal. But the process too gives its commentary.
4. How much value do you give to researching material for your creations?
I am often called an alchemist because researching and experimenting with metals is an essential part of my work. At first I was not thrilled with this classification, but if it means that I take apart the elements of the world and then put them back together with an unexpected result, I feel quite comfortable with it.
5. Is it more important for you the process, or the final Artwork itself?
There is no process if there is not the goal to have a finished work. There is no work if there is no process.
6. Is there an Artist you prefer and admire and why ?
William Kentridge, Lukas Cranach, Tino Sehgal, Fischli&Weiss, Michael Sailsdorfer, … Obsessive artworkers who are not satisfied with simple solutions. (And when I am jealous of their ideas…
7. Have you ever thought to collaborate with other Artists, or do you like to work on your own?
Even though most creative processes need the solitude of the studio, there had always been collaborations:
A long time correspondence with Andi Gut, exhibtions with Manon van Kouswijk, book projects with Gabi Veit and more.
With Larissa Cluzet, Julia Walter and Andi Gut I am working on a project on fictions and stories for the next meltingpoint in Valencia.
8. Where do you feel you are at with your last Art collection?
The last essential work was an intervention in an archeological museum: The Venus of Z. – An Assumption
I presented objects as a baroque forgery of a prehistoric treasure-trove claiming that they had a powerful impact on my own (“contemporary“) work. All this was embedded in the fictitious story of a scientist of the early enlightenment period, using also a lot of genuine texts, images and thoughts from that time.
I really enjoyed this game with so many levels that even I get confused sometimes. The upcoming work Flies seens much more simple. But still there are many levels to it…
9. What have you discovered about yourself as an Artist along the years ?
Telling stories through things is what fascinates me increasingly. Finding and inventing both the tales and their objects for a new publication is what will keep me busy for the coming time.
10. Two words to describe your last Artwork collection.
Flies fly.
Peter Bauhuis
1. Where is your inspiration coming from ?
Anything can be. Both art or natural museums, music, walking in cities or on mountains, all kind of information found in newspapers or the internet that raise my curiosity, the work of other artists, books, nature or culture, not translated 1:1 into work, but forming a rhizomatic network from which eventually new ideas emerge.
2. What are you trying to communicate with your Artwork ?
My work are investigations on beauty and human behaviour. How do we see art, how do we react, what makes us believe in values? What is the role of objects and their stories in perceiving the world? I achieve this with my three-dimensional artworks as well as with exhibitions and publications, which I see as autonomous works of art.
3. Which material do you prefer to use and why ?
Almost all of my work is metal cast in the lost wax technique. In casting, the archaic nature of working with liquid metal is appealing - but it is also the preliminary work in wax that allows a rapidity and directness that cannot be achieved when working directly in metal. Three-dimensional sketches can thus be transformed into metal. But the process too gives its commentary.
4. How much value do you give to researching material for your creations?
I am often called an alchemist because researching and experimenting with metals is an essential part of my work. At first I was not thrilled with this classification, but if it means that I take apart the elements of the world and then put them back together with an unexpected result, I feel quite comfortable with it.
5. Is it more important for you the process, or the final Artwork itself?
There is no process if there is not the goal to have a finished work. There is no work if there is no process.
6. Is there an Artist you prefer and admire and why ?
William Kentridge, Lukas Cranach, Tino Sehgal, Fischli&Weiss, Michael Sailsdorfer, … Obsessive artworkers who are not satisfied with simple solutions. (And when I am jealous of their ideas…
7. Have you ever thought to collaborate with other Artists, or do you like to work on your own?
Even though most creative processes need the solitude of the studio, there had always been collaborations:
A long time correspondence with Andi Gut, exhibtions with Manon van Kouswijk, book projects with Gabi Veit and more.
With Larissa Cluzet, Julia Walter and Andi Gut I am working on a project on fictions and stories for the next meltingpoint in Valencia.
8. Where do you feel you are at with your last Art collection?
The last essential work was an intervention in an archeological museum: The Venus of Z. – An Assumption
I presented objects as a baroque forgery of a prehistoric treasure-trove claiming that they had a powerful impact on my own (“contemporary“) work. All this was embedded in the fictitious story of a scientist of the early enlightenment period, using also a lot of genuine texts, images and thoughts from that time.
I really enjoyed this game with so many levels that even I get confused sometimes. The upcoming work Flies seens much more simple. But still there are many levels to it…
9. What have you discovered about yourself as an Artist along the years ?
Telling stories through things is what fascinates me increasingly. Finding and inventing both the tales and their objects for a new publication is what will keep me busy for the coming time.
10. Two words to describe your last Artwork collection.
Flies fly.
Peter Bauhuis
Peter Bauhuis, REPLIKA Rings 2015 bronze, fire gilded
Peter Bauhuis, Rings 1998 - 2004 silver, gold, copper, shakudo
GRAND BLOB CHAIN–
necklace 2014; copper, silver,
gold, bronze;
13 elemtents, ø 30 - 72mm;
all beads are seperately cast
in lost wax casting.The sprues
for the process form the
delicate back of the beads
Chain unchained.
The tree has been cut to form
the wearable necklace.
The object has the potential
to be a chain, the chain
carries the memory of its
origin.
You have to decide, the
change of state is
irreversible...
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SERIA 2020
Objects in various alloys brass
and silver; Silver 925 and fine
silver; copper and silver
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Peter Bauhuis – CHAINS AND
FLOWERS 3 two coloured
Objects 2019 (simultaneously
cast);
Chains - chained
various silver alloys, bronze,
tumbaga, 21 x 13 x 10,5 cm -
27,5 x 13,5 x 10 cm
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Artist Peter Bauhuis DISHES–
objects 2013 ø ca 6 cm
alloys of silver, copper, tin,
zink,simultanously cast
Artist Peter Bauhuis,KLEIN BOTTLE–pendant 2018 gold
YOU ARE HERE!
pin, nylon by Peter Bauhuis
worn by Lena Munzig
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YOU ARE HERE!
pin, 2018
nylon, iron
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Rings 2000 - 2018
silver, gold, copper
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NEOPHYSALIA –
Brooches 2008 - 2015
silver, gold, copper
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Peter Bauhuis FLAVEDO –
4 broches, 2018 tumbaga, depletion gilding
AVANCEN– a movement -
almost a touch
pins, 2008 Gold 750,
Silber/silver ca. 20 x 20 mm
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AVANCEN– pins, 2008 gold
750, silver ca. 20 x 20 mm
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Peter Bauhuis - ORIFICE–
Big Brown Double Hole Chain,
2014
Bronze - ø ca. 22 cm
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Peter Bauhuis - ORIFICE–
Big Brown Double Hole Chain,
2014
Bronze - ø ca. 22 cm
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