ETHEREAL AND SOLID: THE SCULPTURE IN WASHI PAPER OF JANINE THÜNGEN-REICHENBACH

Versatile and light, symbol of both fragility and durability, delicate yet long-lasting, Japanese washi is one of the most precious and ancient papers in the world. Because of its unique features and fascinating history, Rome-based multidisciplinary artist and activist Janine Thüngen-Reichenbach (Monaco, 1964) elects it as one of the most significant languages in her art practice.

Experimenting with multiple materials, ranging from bronze, glass, cement, and silicon, Janine’s art vision unfolds primarily in sculptures and site-specific installations. Rooted in a deep knowledge of textiles, her aesthetic and conceptual narrative explores the metamorphosis of matter and the spatio-temporal dimension. Drawing from philosophical contrasts in humankind, her work results in a poetic dance of opposites: concave and convex, light and darkness, negative and positive, liquid and solid.

As suspended in space, Janine's abstract wall sculptures and bas-reliefs created in washi are enriched by the inner spirit of the material itself, listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014. This paper is made of the fibres of the inner bark of grasses such as mulberry, gampi, and mitsumata, and offers a warm and delicate sensation to the touch. In her creations, the artist enhances these authentic qualities and introduces distortions, unexpected movements and angles, that challenge the viewer’s perception of a firm sculpture.

“I work with paper because of the process, specifically the long time it takes to compose it, placing one thin layer of paper on top of the other.”

The traditionally-crafted, thin and delicate threads of paper are transformed by the artist into enduring sculptural forms. The process begins with a soft mixture of cellulose, glue, and hardeners pressed between two silicone molds, themselves impressions taken directly from the ancient walls of Roman paleo-Christian catacombs located beneath the artist's home. By way of long, repetitive and meticulous gestures, layer after layer of torn fragments of transparent paper are applied to the form. Drying slowly, the material hardens to reveal a very thick and tactile paper sculpture that seems to float in space.

The collection of Janine's sculptures presents itself as a physical atlas of thoughts in the act of transformation, accentuated by the light reflected on their soft and elusive surfaces that lend an impressionistic effect. They are mostly entitled by letters from the Greek alphabet, which are employed in contemporary mathematics to denote particle flows and angles. Their forms reflect the artist's interest in groundbreaking space-time physics, specifically theories that depict space as constantly contorting, stretching, and crushing.

Janine aims to guide the spectator into a state of full fascination, peace, and perfect harmony. This balance is created by the evocative force emanating from her works. These unusual forms need to be felt rather than understood, designed for viewers to perceive them intuitively, to activate their unconscious and emotions.

“My sculptures acquire a figurative and metaphorical depth that remains invisible to the human eye.”

In her ​​long multidisciplinary career, Janine Thüngen-Reichenbach has worked as a designer for notable fashion brands, including Karl Lagerfeld, and major opera houses across Europe. She dedicated herself exclusively to visual art practice in 2000.

Her work was presented in museums, art exhibitions and fairs, including the Venice Art Biennale, the Venice Glass Week, the Frie Museum in Copenhagen, the New Delhi Art Fair, the Museum of Fine Arts of Lille and the Palermo State Archive. As part of her artistic identity, Janine is an activist and the co-founder of the humanitarian non-profit organisation Beawarenow, to raise awareness about human trafficking and gender violence.

The purity of Janine's sculpture in New York

A majestic and sculptural wall art piece in washi paper, entitled Phi, is currently integrated within the elegant and urban interiors of the Molteni&C New York Flagship Store. The work, imbued with feelings of intimacy, warmth, and calm, pays homage to the world of textiles, a profound knowledge base built during the artist's significant background as a fashion designer. Phi evokes an exquisite tactile sensation, reminiscent of the gentle movement of a dress. It expresses an intrinsic motion, reflecting the way in which the material unfolds and moves as it is worn.

C R E D I T S :

Photography of the studio and creative process: courtesy of the Artist

Photography of Janine's artwork at Molteni&C New York: photography by Daniel Civetta

Quotes by Janine Thüngen-Reichenbach

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