February 2020 - The Art World: Sayaka Ganz/Reclaimed Creations
Art is a love for many. For Sayaka Ganz, her art is a love of nature and harmony. Using reclaimed metal and plastic objects as materials, Sayaka’s recent sculptures depict animals in motion with rich colors and energy. “One of the important tasks for artists of our time is to bring more of the natural world back into people’s lives, especially in urban areas,” said Ganz. “When we encounter the true wonders of nature, the beauty we behold transcends our intellects and reaches directly to our hearts. I desire a similar response from viewers of my work; to provoke a re-examination of our relationship to the natural world.”
She describes her style as “3D impressionism”, creating an illusion of solid form using plastic objects as brushstrokes that become visible upon observation from close proximity. “My work is about perceiving harmony, even in situations that appear chaotic from the inside,” shared Ganz. “When observing my sculptures up close, one might see gaps, holes, and items being held on only by small points; step away, however, and the sculptures reveal the harmony created when the objects are aligned to the same general (but not identical) direction. Similarly, it is important to gain perspective by stepping back from current problems and look at the larger picture. Then one can perceive the beauty and patterns that exist. I tend to be very analytical about problems, but when I look too hard and closely at the details, all I see are gaps and differences of opinions. When I step back, I can see that although we may approach the problem from different angles, we often have larger goals in common.”
Her recent exhibitions include “Danze Della Natura” – solo exhibition at the Hermann Geiger Foundation in Cecina, Italy, and “Metamorphosis” – temporary installation at the Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska. Her recent commissions include a series of marine life sculptures for the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California and a permanent installation of an underwater scene featuring whales and turtles in the lobby of Cimer Spa at the Paradise Resort in Incheon, Korea.
Ganz’s work can currently be seen in an exhibition at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science until May 17th.