The opening of Arie van Selm Exhibition "The Crow" at Werkstattgalerie Hermann Noack — Photo: Roman März

Arie van Selm's iconic Crow returns to the rooms of the Workshop Gallery: but it is not only the familiar Crows 1 to 3 that will take their place in various sizes, in black and red patinated bronze or mirrored nickel silver - the center of the exhibition is the world's first unveiling of Crow 4, which as a plaster model provides insight into Van Selm's continued preoccupation with his most popular and influential motif.

While the dynamism of the reduced form and the vital tension of the body are preserved in this new aesthetic evolutionary stage, even enhanced by the crouched posture and teardrop-like basic form, it appears at the same time recast by a more naturalistic elaboration of the head and tail feathers. This suggestion of feather structure creates a startling and delightful contrast to the smoothness of the torso and wings. The texturing is at once picked up and mirrored by the tall base, which resembles a piece of an old stone wall or rough plaster. The proportion of the pedestal to the bird also creates the association that the crow is on a high wall or the projection of an old house. Combined with the now less abstracted, slightly opened beak, one thinks one hears the characteristic rough call of the crow, which seems to take possession of its place in the heights with its sprawling feet. Or is it rather ready to leap and take off? The plaster model evokes anticipation of the cast work in bronze, of its colorfulness and luminous form, and of how it will bring Van Selm's vision of this mysterious and intelligent bird to life in space.

From February 20 to April 21, 2023, the high and bright rooms of the Workshop Gallery will provide the ideal setting to become familiar with the current work of one of the most important contemporary Dutch artists - in the very place where his globally acclaimed sculptures have seen the light of day for many years.

List of exhibits