“What does wood mean to you?” I ask. Here at Sammlung Jan de Weryha, we are surrounded by art that answers that very question.
Sammlung Jan de Weryha is more than just a gallery. It is a space where wood transforms into thought. It is a space of constant art. It is a testament to the vision of Jan de Weryha, a sculptor who has dedicated his life to exploring the material’s potential.
Jan de Weryha was born in Gdańsk in 1950. He studied sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk from 1971 to 1976. Since 1981, he has been working in Hamburg.
Since 2012, Sammlung Jan de Weryha has presented a permanent exhibition of his works. It is supported by a circle of friends. The Sammlung de Weryha is located in the former depot of the Schlossmuseum Hamburg-Bergedorf. The spacious exhibition rooms display parts of Jan de Weryha’s collection. The works on display date from 1997 to the present.
De Weryha’s art engages with the materiality of wood. He explores cutting breaking and splitting. These actions define his artistic journey. He is a representative of process art. His creative work is about transforming wood.
Jan de Weryha does not just create objects. He unveils the hidden language within the wood itself. Some say that he archives wood. His art is a way of ordering the forms that this material takes in nature. He does not burden the resulting objects with meaning. He avoids associations except the most natural ones.
The artist’s imagination transforms chaos into order. Ordnung or order is a fundamental design principle of Jan de Weryha. The new order is not superior to nature. The artistic process creates a new creation. De Weryha starts with one of the most beautiful materials: wood is his preferred material.
His wood pieces incorporate geometric structures. They are a kind of grammar that allows nature to express itself more clearly. They encourage nature to speak revealing its invisible properties.
Jan de Weryha’s art belongs to experimental modern art. It also relates to process art. His art requires public exposure in a large space.
The artist himself says that he actually archives wood. Rhythm is what works in Weryha’s sculptures and installations. He arranges small pieces of wood in simple combinations on the floor. He encloses them in frames like pictures. The genius of his art lies in this simplicity.
Since 2016, the “Freundeskreis der Sammlung de Weryha e.V.” has supported the artist’s work. The group supports the artist. The Friends want to promote the artist. Jan de Weryha’s studio in Lohbrügge will be expanded.
You can visit Sammlung Jan de Weryha Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. You can also visit by appointment. The open studio is every first Saturday of the month from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Workshops and art courses also take place here. The Sammlung de Weryha looks forward to great interest. School groups are especially welcome.
Take a closer look at the sculptures around us. Feel the warmth and texture of the wood. Consider the stories hidden within each piece. What do you see? What do you feel? The Sammlung Jan de Weryha invites you to connect with art and nature. It creates an experience that resonates long after you leave.