Artist: Harumi Klossowska de Rola

Preview: Thursday 19 October, 6pm-8pm

Robilant+Voena presents an exhibition by Harumi Klossowska de Rola in the New York gallery. This is the artist’s third exhibition with R+V, and her first solo show in the United States.

Titled after the Arabic word for the animal kingdom, Hayawan features fifteen new and recent examples of Klossowska’s signature bronze sculptures, each inspired by creatures of the natural world. Each work is an evocation not only of a specific animal but also of its spirit, honed through the artist’s first-hand observation of these animals and infused with references to deities from ancient and contemporary cultures.

The natural world has always provided a wealth of inspiration for Klossowska; growing up in the Swiss Alps, where she still lives and works to this day, she was immersed in nature, sparking a lifelong fascination. Today, the wild animals inhabiting the forests around her home still provide the foundation for her artworks, including the gilded owls Athene Noctua (2023) and Lakshmi (2023), and her tame wolf, Nalawi, who provided the model for the monumental Moquwaio II (2022–23). She studies these subjects from close proximity: ‘I have a garden which is attached to the studio where my wild animals are, so they can come in while I work.’

Through creating her works in bronze, Klossowska enters into a tradition that stretches back millennia. Early civilisations began creating statues to celebrate their deities and heroes, immortalising them in bronze, thus beginning a long history of bronze statuary of both human and animal figures. The influence of such early cultures, especially the Egyptians and the Incas – for whom animals and nature offered an earthly connection to the divine – is a constant presence in Klossowska’s works. Baba and Sobek (both 2022), for example, take inspiration from ancient Egyptian deities, assuming the form of a baboon and Nile crocodile respectively; and the mighty Apademak (2023), a bronze lion over two metres long, shares its name with the Nubian god of war. This lion exhibits the slender, stylised waist that is a signature design of Klossowska, also a feature of other works in the exhibition such as Moquwaio II and Baba. The artist’s respect for varied world views stems from her mixed European and Japanese heritage, that has exposed her to multiple cultures and perspectives.

Klossowska's connection with the history of metalwork, combined with its physicality and her collaboration with skilled artisans, allows the work build on the grand tradition of metal statuary inspired by flora and fauna, and transcend conventional boundaries. Characterised by an ethereal and poetic quality that bears testament to her vision, Klossowska's sculptures evoke a sensuality deeply intertwined with the very materials she employs. This blending of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary sensibilities offers viewers a timeless experience in an era witnessing a renewed interest in painting and sculpture.

With her practice today, Klossowska continues to explore new techniques, materials, and sources of inspiration, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to her craft and a quest for deeper artistic horizons. Distilling the soul of her creatures into simplified representations, Klossowska shows how strength, delicacy and beauty can co-exist in sculptures infused with their maker’s intimate knowledge and profound respect of the natural world.

Harumi Klossowska de Rola was born in 1973 in Geneva, and today lives and works in Switzerland. She began designing haute joaillerie in 2008, and has since created pieces for luxury brands including Boucheron, Chopard, Valentino and Goossens.

In recent years, she has focused on her practice as a sculptor, and her works are in private collections internationally, including the UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, the United States and South Korea.