Nina Hole

Born 1941  Denmark

Died 2016 Orslev, Denmark

EDUCATION

1961-1963  Art and Craft School, Copenhagen, Denmark

1969-1972  Chatauqua Arts Institute, Jamestown, New York

1972-1974  Fredonia State University, Fredonia, New York

APPRENTICESHIPS & RESIDENCIES

2010    Artist in Residence, Watershed, Edgecomb. Maine

BIOGRAPHY

Nina Hole is known for her monumental clay “fire sculptures,” which are equal parts sculpture and performance art. These resemble rudimentary churches and houses built by teams of people, then fired in place. Although solid looking, the structures were hollow inside and built in a modular system which connected rows of slabs bent into a u-shape, making a strong, double wall system. These were sometimes minimal with a rough, rudimentary exterior decorated with terra sigillata or glaze.

Instead of being fired in a kiln, the fire brick bases are  the kiln fire box. Wood is fed into the brick kiln base throughout the firing process. Once wrapped in insulating k-wool material the sculpture with its fire box is the kiln. When the insulating blankets are removed the monumental sculpture is revealed, a glowing fire belching sculpture. Sculptures would be built on fire bricks, and sometimes cement so they could be moved to another location. Hole’s performance art were Happenings[1] these reveals were events, a key part of her art.

Hole has permanent installations of these sculptures around the world, including Mexico, the United States, Australia, Portugal, Taiwan, Hungary, Wales, Korea, Germany, Japan, and her native Denmark.

Nina Hole is also known for her smaller sculptures including her “small houses” and “inspirational churches” series. Like her fire sculptures, these are inspired by houses, churches, with a rough finish and a muted palette of whites and browns.

Hole’s last fire sculpture was built on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana and completed in 2016 after her death.  A video of the process and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzAlejgVGYM.

[1]https://www.theartstory.org/movement/happenings/history-and-concepts/  last accessed: 16 October 2021