I form this raw material, earth with my hands guided by my own imagination, but it seeks to mysteriously elude me, the alchemistic process of firing adds surprising new elements each time.
Brigitte Saugstad is an Artist from Austria. Studied and learnt Keramik Design and Produktgestaltung at University of Applied Arts Vienna Magister Artium, she truly believes in Ganesha.
Brigitte’s studio is in the Vienna Woods. This Ganesha believer says, “Ganesha”, the child with the elephant’s head, she never let’s go of this figure, the archetype of the “divine inner child” in Indian mythology.
No matter how many other unique and impressive sculptures she forms, fires, paints and glazes with clay, it is always the “divine messenger of happiness that playfully dances out of my hands”, series of the god emerged, reflecting his principles of “filial joy, innocence and wisdom”.
The artist has dedicated two sites (www.brigittesaugstad.com & www.goldenganeshart.com.) where the beautiful, crafted sculptures of Ganesha, Hanuman, Laxmi, Sarswati and other series of God & Goddesses are to be found.
The sculptures of Brigitte Saugstad as mentioned in her site, are uniquely hand modelled. The statues are painted, glazed and partly time fired with real gold. Artist adores Ganesha so much so that her another site name is Golden Ganesh Art. She says that her art is born out of more than 30 years of experience in working with ceramics, made with all her love and full dedication to create the finest pieces of art.
In an interview given for an international magazine, Die Presse Schaufenster, (the lifestyle supplement of the Austrian daily newspaper), she expresses herself, “When I see the finished works in front of me, I am always amazed and elated at how they have developed.” She says that often after completion of the artwork, she fills with an amazement,” Did I really do it with my hands? This deep, endless flow of joy and also happiness, which I can then feel within myself, has taken shape!” Very often her works of art are of divine form in the truest sense of the world.
Her works are modeled by hand, sometimes using the old Japanese Raku technique, individual figures are refined with real shiny gold, others are decorated with Swarovski crystals. What ultimately comes out is always luck as well, she humbly believes.
“I shape the raw material according to my imagination and yet it partly eludes me, has its own power. The alchemical process of firing always adds something exceptionally distinctive!”
The artist follows Sahaja Yoga Meditation and writes in her site, “Here is a link to the meditation that has always inspired me: https://wemeditate.co “
I acknowledge Mrs. Priya for translating in English, the artist’s interview from German language. Translator is a resident of New Delhi and acquires C2.2 level certificate of German language from Max Mueller Bhavan. She has a great interest in spending time with dogs, reading books and teaching German to kids.
