Zondag, Ans

Netherlands, 1959

Sculptures

Ans Zondag studied at the Royal Academy of Art & Design in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. In the first few years after her graduation, she mainly focused on second dimension. She exhibited graphic work and drawings. In 1990 she decided to focus on sculpture.

When she arrived in southern Spain, she was immediately struck by the beauty and elegance of Andalusian horses. Ans established contact with the gypsies – and there in their small riding schools (picadors) – she started making small horse statues. She produced dozens of plastic sculptures directly on location. While the gypsies made their horses dance, Ans made her images.

Later she devoted herself to a wide variety of animals, including bulls, goats, cows, rhinos, hedgehogs, elephants, birds, and so on. But whatever animal Ans makes, she prefers to work directly surrounded by them. She believes that a more direct exchange takes place between the animal and the image. The result of this collaboration is a very sensitive image; fragile and tender or strong and powerful, but always lively and clearly present.