Sculpture "Thinking of You", version bronze golden

Valerie Otte's bronze figures are rarely portraits but rather sensitive character studies. The figures do not pose but instead, enable the viewer to look at people to whom we involuntarily ascribe an emotional inner life.
Otte's figures are entirely at peace with themselves so that the viewers believe they are witnessing an intimate moment. At the same time, they are "present in the world", which is particularly evident in her work "Thinking of You": The young woman sits on a chair, lost in thought - perhaps in her quiet flat, perhaps in a busy café - and gazes pensively at her phone. Maybe she is still hesitating to call a dear person, who she is missing, possibly even looking at a photo of them. Without a doubt, however, her thoughts are connected to the outside world. Valerie Otte allows the viewer to have a deep insight into the world of her protagonist's thoughts.

Fine bronze sculpture, cast using Lost-Wax-Process, chiselled by hand, polished and gold patinated. Limited edition of 49 copies, individually numbered and signed. With numbered certificate of authenticity and limitation. Size 22,5 x 26 x 10,5 cm (h/w/d). Weight approx. 2.4 kg. ars mundi Exclusive Edition.

About Valerie Otte

Insight into the human soul

Otte's art can be described as a play of the eyes at distance, which is a classical description for figurative sculpture. The rule: Close observation. In her works, the artist translates everything that she saw in the world as a quiet emotion, a small gesture or a moment of truthfulness. The viewer then "reads" these traces cast in bronze and soon no longer sees mere sculptures but personalities. It is a game that educates - not only for art but also for the world.

Valerie Otte (born in 1977) studied sculpture and art history in London and Berlin. She followed up with a diploma in product design in Potsdam – this path describes perfectly the approach and versatility of her work.

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An alloy of copper with other metals (especially with tin) used since ancient times.

When casting bronze, the artist usually applies the lost-wax technique which is dating back more than 5000 years. It's the best, but also the most complex method of producing sculptures.

First, the artist forms a model of his sculpture. It is embedded in a liquid silicone rubber mass. Once the material has solidified, the model is cut out. The liquid wax is poured into the negative mould. After cooling down, the wax cast is removed from the mould, provided with sprues and dipped into ceramic mass. The ceramic mass is hardened in a kiln, whereby the wax flows out (lost mould).

Now we finally have the negative form, into which the 1400° C hot molten bronze is poured. After the bronze had cooled down, the ceramic shell is broken off and the sculpture is revealed.

Now the sprues are removed, the surfaces are polished, patinated and numbered by the artist himself or, to his specifications, by a specialist. Thus, each casting becomes an original work.

For lower-quality bronze castings, the sand casting method is often used which, however, does not achieve the results of a more complex lost-wax technique in terms of surface characteristics and quality.

Graphic or sculpture edition that was initiated by ars mundi and is available only at ars mundi or at distribution partners licensed by ars mundi.

Term for an art object (sculpture, installation), which is produced in multiple copies in a limited and numbered edition according to the artist‘s will.

Artist's multiples have been called the most accessible and affordable art on the market.

A plastic work of sculptural art made of wood, stone, ivory, bronze or other metals.

While sculptures from wood, ivory or stone are made directly from the block of material, in bronze casting a working model is prepared at first. Usually, it is made of clay or other easily mouldable materials.

The prime time of sculpture after the Greek and Roman antiquity was the Renaissance. Impressionism gave a new impulse to the sculptural arts. Contemporary artists such as Jorg Immendorf, Andora, and Markus Lupertz also enriched sculptures with outstanding works.

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