Hortence Brouwn – exhibition Feel at Home (2019).
In collaboration with Gallery Alma Blou, sculptor Hortence Brouwn organized an ‘open door exhibition’, in December 2019, titled ‘Feel at Home’.
Hortence Brouwn is one of the first artists who started to use the limestone of Curacao’s table top mountain ‘Tafelberg’, for her sculptures.
Until her retirement Hortence worked as a math teacher at a secondary school in Curaçao. She combined her work as a teacher with her artistic aspirations. She would train and develop her skills in her spare time or during school holidays. Although she loved teaching, she soon discovered that her artistry was her real passion. Hortence followed several courses given by well known sculptors in the Netherlands and Italy. In Italy she learned to work with Carrara marble.
As Hortence also wanted to work with bronze, she initiated the first bronze foundry in Curaçao. The foundry was open for all artists on the island who wanted to work in bronze. It was located at the wharf (Matthey werf) of the harbor on St. Anna baai. The bronze foundry was active till 2012.
Most people know Hortence for her large Mama-statues, in either concrete or bronze. One of her first big Mama’s is placed at the entrance of ‘Kura Hulanda’ museum in Otrobanda. The museum is now closed, but the statue is still there. Over the years many more mama-statues where placed on different locations on the island. The mama’s by Hortence Brouwn are a tribute to the Curaçao woman. Hortence’s mama-statues are seated on a bench, preferably in the shade, and just always there. They are a personification of trust, comfort and companionship.
Hortence’s garden at her house was a small sculpture garden with a selection of her own statues, and also a big mama. The ‘open door exhibition’ in December 2019 was held there. All the statues in her garden were for sale. Art pieces from her own art collection consisting of work by Curaçaoan and Caribbean artist were also for sale.
Opening: Sunday, December 8, 2019.
Live music by Enid Lucasius and Judy Sprock, 11.00 AM – Noon.
Exhibition hours:
December 9 – 14, 2019.
Daily: 11 AM – 5 PM
This text may only be reproduced with reference to the source: Curaçao Art®️, www.curacao-art.com. The copyright of the artworks remains property of the artist.
