HansenMuseum.org

Marc Sijan’s Superrealistic sculptures are “homages to humanity’s fascination with its own forms - a fascination which has compelled artists throughout the millenia to mirror life in virtually every medium.” Sijan’s figures are incredibly lifelike, sensuous, and graceful. In fact, they are so lifelike, they seem always on the verge of movement, a mere instant away from action. The pores in the skin, the tiny hairs and veins; even the bald spots, the blemished, the individual shapes of the faces that make human beings so similar, yet so unique: These are the essence of what makes Marc Sijan’s work so arresting. Sijan, a Milwaukee-based artist, carries on the tradition of a very old form, but his approach is very modern. His realism recalls the work of the Greek sculptors in its bold expression of human energy and poise. But Sijan is not necessarily celebrating the ideal form. His figures are more gritty, more natural - a tribute to real people. Sijan’s work is similar to that of fellow artists Duane Hansen and John DeAndrea, who use lifelike human figures to express elements of the human condition and human relationships. But whereas his colleagues tend to express a kind of static existence, Sijan tries to capture a life force in full swing.

Sijan’s method is distinct and exacting. First, he works from live models, to produce a negative mold in plaster, and sculpts the interior with special tools and a magnifying glass to assure accurate detail. Then, he casts the figure in a polyester resin. To achieve realistic flesh tones, Sijan applies twenty-five coasts of paint - and adds varnish. Sijan uses oil paint in the final stages of the work.
To achieve the remarkably realistic product , Sijan looks for “variations.” Those are the millions of individual features we all possess - goose bumps, skin imperfections, skin color, sunburn, birthmarks, age spots - and Sijan spends as long as six months reproducing this detail on one piece.

For more information visit our website www.hansenmuseum.org or call Shirley at (785) 689-4846 or (785) 689-4848.