Ilse Oelbers has been trained as a wooden boatbuilder in Lowestoft, England. For several years she worked as a ships carpenter en sailed on Tall Ships all over the world. Back home in 2003 she started to work in commission and made wooden figure heads and other ships decorations. Free work was her wish and she made a life size clay model of a woman which was bronze casted. Since then, Oelbers’ work is developing constantly. Her work is exhibited in and outside the Netherlands.

To me, being a sculptor  is an opportunity to view things in a different perspective. In present-day society opportunism and fear are more common than showing understanding and interest in each other. Therefor I believe I have an assignment, not only to create beautiful art, but also socially relevant art. When people see my work, I hope they will pause a moment to reconsider what is of real importance in life: Empathy and understanding.

“I try to let go of everything and concentrate on the one thing: The necessity, the breath of every artist: work. First I start with an armature with which I play around until the posture seems perfect. Than the real work starts:  Modeling, rasping, carving, smearing. Ruthless, unreachable for my loved ones, I take less time for eating and sleep restless. Watching. Finally I scrape my name in the clay. I widen my gaze en see that everything still is as it was”