Helle Crawford

The existentialist questions given by the human condition and the hopes for a chance to survive are the themes, that sculptor Helle Rask Crawford works with in her series of magical realistic, dystopian, but also hopefull and humorous sculptures.

Crawford often contrasts human and animal to highlight their shared habitat and fate. She puts the figures in unusual constellations to make the viewer reflect on his or her own place in nature. The sculptures can be menacing and ominous (Mantis Dreams), hopefull (Europa), playfull (Beetlesurfer), dreamy (Ancient Evenings in Upper Egypt), philosophical (Metamorphosis), political (Lady Godiva) or humorous as in Frog Wife throwing.

Crawford works in the neoromantic tradition, inspired by icons such as Goethe, Schubert, Camille Claudel and Rodin as well as sci-fi noir literature and film (Bladerunner, Dune, the Matrix). An emotive and expressionistic language characterize the artistic approach of the neoromantics, thus establishing the urgency of dealing with the topics of a rapidly evolving world, constantly on the brink of chaos.