Hans Hovy: Space Sculptullery

Artist list

Hans Hovy

Nowhere is the hand of a maker more visible then in the recent jewellery pieces of Hans Hovy. In his first exhibition, two years ago, his necklaces had well defined contours and a silky soft skin. This time however, the traces of the grater and the strength required to work the ebony have remained visible. The sculptor who makes jewellery can’t deny his origins, for his pieces are dominated by bold shapes and a monumental expressiveness.

There are different groups to be distinguished in this work. Some refer to the imagery that dominated Hovy’s sculptures at the end of the twentieth century: the star shapes and shimmering silver spots allude to the cosmos and the firmament. Hovy also plays around with the jargon of jewellery: the rather robust, angular shapes in his necklaces are called ‘ruby’ or ‘diamond’. Language is an unusual ingredient in jewellery, yet it is always an important factor in Hovy’s work. There are even several necklaces made up from letters. Because many words share their last and first letters, the message often remains elusive. But the attentive viewer will quickly grab the lighthearted, loving character of these seemingly weighty jewels. Their materiality will seduce the senses, just as the message shall lift the spirit.

Ward Schrijver
(© Galerie Rob Koudijs)