Stefan Mager
Mullumbimby Creek, Australia
Artist Stefan Mager crafts sculptures that radiate childlike curiosity and humor, providing comfort and joy to those who encounter them. Influenced by the simplicity of Japanese art and the philosophy of wabi-sabi, he embraces imperfection, transience, and impermanence as authentic expressions of life, aiming to capture these qualities in his creations. "The world is complicated and overwhelming; instead of adding to these complexities, I prefer to invest in whimsical lightheartedness," shares Stefan. His creative process involves strolling through his expansive 22-acre farm, sketching inspirational shapes, and bringing them to life through clay or wood figurines. His sculpting sanctuary is nestled in a shed atop a hill, offering a panoramic view of the lush and fertile landscape that is part of Mount Warning in New South Wales, Australia—providing a constant source of inspiration. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Stefan dedicates time to tending to his numerous gardens, filled with fruit-bearing trees and tropical plants. This holistic approach to life, blending art and nature, defines Stefan Mager's unique creative journey.
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Artist Statement
As an artist, I am interested in starting with an unformed raw material and finishing up with an object that is pleasing to the eye and intriguing to the mind. My work explores how these two realms intersect, intertwine, and often diverge.
I am attracted to the simplicity of the type seen in Japanese art in which imperfection, transience, and incompleteness become authentic expressions of life itself.
My inspiration comes from the environment I am fortunate to live in. Rich in exotic, colorful life, the tropical landscape surrounding me never fails to inspire and delight me.
I like my work to be entertaining, curious, and a little comical. Sculpture provides a sense of touch. One can pick up a statue, turn it in space, and experience it as an object of weight and form. This interaction possibility makes sculpture different from painting, always stuck in two dimensions.
The world is complicated and overwhelming. I would instead not add to these complexities. My collectors enjoy the childlike qualities of my work. It makes them smile rather than think.
Making these sculptures is enormous fun and a privilege to me. I aspire for this exuberant creativity to resonate with the collector, investing a touch of whimsical lightheartedness and comfort into the rigors of everyday life.
I am attracted to the simplicity of the type seen in Japanese art in which imperfection, transience, and incompleteness become authentic expressions of life itself.
My inspiration comes from the environment I am fortunate to live in. Rich in exotic, colorful life, the tropical landscape surrounding me never fails to inspire and delight me.
I like my work to be entertaining, curious, and a little comical. Sculpture provides a sense of touch. One can pick up a statue, turn it in space, and experience it as an object of weight and form. This interaction possibility makes sculpture different from painting, always stuck in two dimensions.
The world is complicated and overwhelming. I would instead not add to these complexities. My collectors enjoy the childlike qualities of my work. It makes them smile rather than think.
Making these sculptures is enormous fun and a privilege to me. I aspire for this exuberant creativity to resonate with the collector, investing a touch of whimsical lightheartedness and comfort into the rigors of everyday life.
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