About Herbert Nouwens

The sculptures of Herbert Nouwens exude power and stillness, movement and balance. Since 1985, Nouwens has worked almost exclusively with steel and he explores the tension between mass and lightness, between solid constructions and the illusion of weightlessness. Nouwens’ visual language bears a signature all of its own. His work is associative: no rigid designs, but shapes that arise from impressions, memories and intuition. Japanese aesthetics have a clear influence on his work, especially the power of simplicity and the suggestion of movement. The meeting with sculptor Isamu Noguchi was important in this. An essential element in Nouwens’ work is the interaction between sculpture and environment. His sculptures arise as spatial poems that enter a dialogue with the place where they stand. The abstract Energia can be seen at ARTZUID. This work of art is an impressive steel sculpture. With flowing lines and a sense of upward movement, Nouwens makes the invisible power of energy tangible for the viewer.