The human figure lies at the very foundation of sculptural art. It’s the essence and a neverending fascination for many. Benjamin M. Fock, a North German sculptor, creates his work in line with this tradition, striving to depict the natural plasticity of the human body and discovering new ways to do so.
Fock works with different materials, although the material itself is not his primary concern. His sculptures are made of wood, bronze, or ceramic, but what makes them unique is not their final form — it’s the creative process preceding it.
Informed by centuries of sculpture history, Fock immersed himself in a dialogue with the human form, further exploring bodily mechanisms, and employing his interpretations of classical approaches. As a result, we’re awarded dynamic sculptures featuring movement and an unexpected juxtaposition of volume and mass.
Benjamin M. Fock Hoffnung, Detailansicht 2, 2021 – Copyright Benjamin M. Fock
Premo – A New Concept in Sculpture
At the core of Benjamin M. Fock’s work lies his idea of dismissing the subtractive, additive, and constructive principles of sculptural creation. Such a notion stems from his interest in working with a pliant mass to which nothing needs to be added or subtracted, nor does it require complex construction. What’s most important in this approach is the work itself, the study of the material, and the discovery of volume behavior when the material is shifted from one form or place to another, without changing its given nature.
Although the viewer will seek meaning and familiarity in a finished piece, Fock’s sculptures are not testimonies to any particular aesthetic. They are evidence of a highly contemplative creative process, statements of a new concept in contemporary figurative sculpture, created with the mass-shifting sculptural technique Fock calls — Premo.
Benjamin M. Fock, Hoffnung, 2021, Copyright Benjamin M. Fock
From Mass to Movement
Despite his rejection of an aesthetic approach, Fock’s sculptures still possess a clean, although diverse, visual language. Depending on the material and the series, emanate stoicism, movement, lightness, or continuous change.
A series of his works reimagines a Renaissance sculptural style of figura serpentinata, giving its movement more drama and elongating and twisting the sculptures in peculiar ways. These works are about movement, imbued with the same fascination artists have had for ages, from Degas to Richard MacDonald.
What’s interesting is the treatment of mass in these lively depictions – it’s exceptionally lightweight, giving the surrounding empty air meaning and depth, while minimizing the material itself.
From experimenting with mass to representations of movement, Fock presents his visions through an amalgamation of different design systems from various eras, never shy to express himself in different manners. Therefore, his body of work is visually disparate but conceptually sound and interconnected.
Benjamin M. Fock at the Discovery Art Fair in Cologne 2025
Benjamin M. Fock will present a selection of his works at the DAF Cologne this April. Sculpture lovers and collectors can join us at X Post from 3 to 6 April 2025 and engage with Fock’s heterogeneous oeuvre.