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Nili Leichter
Artist’s Statement
In representing personal, or internal, relationships I begin by identifying some unique element in the material I use. It can be the color, texture, pattern, shape, or even a flaw or imperfection. This represents the unique aspect present in every individual. I then bring that aspect into focus in order to show how this uniqueness is ultimately the focal point of the piece (or person).
The primary reason that I use direct wood carving is because of the unique elements that are found in each piece of wood. This uniqueness, which reflects the fact that the wood was once a living thing, reflects in my work, which also reflects living situations. For this reason as well, every one of the pieces is one of a kind, impossible to duplicate.
My sculptures come about in one of two ways. I may begin with a feeling or idea that I want to express through the sculpture, and work to create what I have imagined. In these cases there are always two parts in the piece, which reflect one another in some way. The relationship between the two elements, and what they represent individually and to each other, becomes the central theme of the piece. My other inspiration is to create the sculpture based on the material I am working with. I find an element that stands out in the wood, and develop the entire piece around that one thing, letting it guide and shape the piece. Ultimately, the piece embodies that one aspect which captured my attention from the start.
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