Powerful bulls, newborn calves, graceful horses – Ans Zondag's bronze sculptures are individually enchanting. Her ability to capture the purest essence of animals within her work resonates deeply with viewers, evoking profound emotions. Her sculptures are akin to genuine portraits, skillfully representing the animals in their most authentic forms. Among the recurrent subjects in Zondag's portfolio are the elegant Andalusian horses and robust bulls. The distinctive patina, a creation of Zondag herself, imparts a stunning texture to her sculptures.
Residing on a modest farm, far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern daily life, sculptor Ans Zondag spends a significant part of her year. Surrounded by orchards bearing ripe oranges, limes, and avocados, Zondag lives amidst a variety of animals she cares for daily, including sheep, horses, donkeys, birds, dogs, and cats. Her profound love for animals finds expression in wax or clay, which eventually translates into bronze sculptures.
What sets her work apart is the gracefulness of the animals, so lifelike that they appear to almost come to life when you momentarily divert your gaze. In her work, there's a striking contrast between the fragility and resilience exuded by her creations. The animals, at times delicate and almost slender, simultaneously radiate immense strength, with both aspects complementing one another. The texture and the unique patina on her pieces are also notably striking, characterized by their rich textures and often featuring her visible fingerprints.
Ans Zondag crafts her distinctive patina for her bronze sculptures. By applying metal oxides in her unique manner, the sculptures acquire exceptional layers of color that can range from light brown to deep green, sometimes even appearing to take on a bluish hue. Zondag views this patination process as a form of painting, where at times, the emphasis is on a horse's flanks with deep earthy tones, while at other times, the patina on a bird's back results in a woven, alternating palette of colors.
Ans Zondag is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Art and Design in Den Bosch. She resides and works in Southern Spain, where the animals in her immediate surroundings serve as a constant source of inspiration. Her sculptures find their origin deep within nature and are intimately intertwined with her way of life. Ans Zondag's art carries the observer to a simpler existence, a world where humans and animals coexist closely with nature.
