ELEANOR HERBOSCH | Modelling the spiritual energy of the earth

FEATURED ARTIST

ELEANOR HERBOSCH: MODELLING THE SPIRITUAL ENERGY OF THE EARTH

The combination of spirit and matter, the unceasing movement of water, the powerful visual memories of Japanese sacred trees, the key role of rituals, all these elements join together in the creative process of multidisciplinary artist Eleanor Herbosch (1999), whose adopted means of expression are ceramics and painting united by earth as the common denominator.

At KALPA, we are thrilled to welcome her new series of paintings entitled Raw Umber, created with the unique soil from the natural surroundings of Volterra. The warmth and the energy arising from this series provide the Galleries’ historical interiors with a renewed tranquillity and a sensation of meditative silence, linking the core of our exhibition space to the richness of the outdoors. Creating a visual experience that is pure pleasure for the senses, Herbosch’s work honours the harmonious and philosophical process of Japanese calligraphic painting, as expressed through a careful configuration of brush strokes.

Herbosch's meditative pieces are based on texture and purity as well as on the union of ritual gestures and techniques. She uses earth as a form of paint that she dehydrates and grinds to create a powdered clay pigment then to be mixed with ink. Pursuing an intuitive and tactile method of work, she explores a variety of patterns and pigments from differing geographical locations transposing their primordial energy inside a frame, and offering it to the viewer.

Embracing the principles of Zen and Japanese minimalism, the artist draws upon diverse spiritual practices that emphasize clearing the mind and harmoniously interacting with Nature. The Raw Umber series embodies the millenary history and beauty of Volterra's mineral-rich land and shows an umber coloured visual ensemble. The signs impressed on the canvases are the result of organic movements, resembling a fracture, a permanent action, interplays of light and shadow, and alternations of moments of pause and motion.

“I am constantly exploring and focusing on materiality when I create. Through my artistic lens, materiality and manipulation lie on a similar frequency. What sort of surfaces can I manipulate with clay, that differs from that of paint?”

“Working with clay feels like going back to basics, it enables me to focus on replicating the characteristics of the earth.”

After her graduation in Ceramic Design at London’s Central Saint Martins, Herbosch founded her practice in a small studio in Antwerp, realising commissioned art for private and public institutions. In particular, the connection with the timeless land of Tuscany found its roots in 2020 when she was invited to participate in the Florentine artist residency of Numeroventi, culminating in The Daylight Opening collective exhibition. A couple of years later, she explored the singular traits and philosophy of the Etruscan culture, expanding her creative vision thanks to the encounter with the collection of the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum of Volterra and participating in the art exhibition Aevum curated by KALPA.

In 2023, the highly regarded biannual magazine Openhouse featured Herbosch’s research and recent projects, exploring the profound layers of her artistic process as well as her figure as a contemporary artist. Discover more and dive deeper into the artist's world on the beautiful pages of Openhouse: https://openhouse-magazine.com...

A new series of commissioned paintings in the restored masseria of Casa Soleto in Puglia

In 2023, Herbosch was invited to work on three earth paintings as part of Andrew Trotter and Marcelo Martínez's restoration project of Casa Soleto, a 17th-century property in the heart of Salento. Delicately integrated into the interiors, the artworks enhance the monastic feeling of the dining and living rooms in particular and bring inward the energetic quintessence of the earth. While carefully preserving the house's overall identity and historical features of the architecture, the old masseria of Casa Soleto has been re-designed to reach a perfect balance between past and present, and now it can be rented for a sophisticated and authentic holiday experience. Discover more on https://www.casasoleto.com/

Herbosch's paintings breath life into the prestigious collection of Aman New York

As part of KALPA’s art consultancy project for Aman New York, Herbosch created a cohesive group of paintings to be included in the intimate universe of the suites, offering a sense of calm and warmth to the overall atmosphere. Her works reflect the harmony and refinement of a profoundly personal stay at AMAN, matching the use of organic, natural materials with the muted tones of the interiors. Discover more about the project here.