Most would think of candles simply as items used on birthdays, or to make one’s home smell fragrant with aromatherapy scents. But for American artist Janie Korn, they’re a form of art – and she’s just created a whole mini circus world through the oft-overlooked medium of wax. Admire her intricate hand-carved and handpainted pieces at Cirque Korn, her first Singapore solo exhibition that’s currently on display at one of our favourite independent art galleries, Heartware Store & Gallery in Joo Chiat.
Though she first started out with ceramics, the self-taught Korn eventually explored working with wax, and has since made a name for herself with her whimsical candle creations, which she calls ‘magic candles’. From animals to elaborate houses and castles, and even Sailor Moon’s magic wands, Korn has transformed the unassuming candle into precious one-of-a-kind sculptures of varying sizes. With her signature painting style and usage of soft tones, her sculpted candles almost appear like 3D watercolour paintings. Every piece is fully functional, but of course, most wouldn’t want to put flame to wick and have her beautiful designs melt away.
At Cirque Korn, it’s a chaotic, colourful scene of clowns, ponies and poodles doing tricks, and flexible acrobats stacked atop each other. These pieces are displayed on stands made to look like circus tents, with a larger podium in the centre for the main set-up. Above a row of candles with faces, which we're guessing are meant to be circus spectators, reads, “Every day feels like a circus. Some days I’m the ringmaster, some days I’m the runaway poodle”.
Head down to the free-entry exhibition yourself to see what other surprises Korn has in her bag of tricks. As is usually the case at Heartware Store & Gallery, all items exhibited are available for purchase. Fret not if your home is scarce of space, because there are also tiny gachapon-sized candles up for grabs.
Find out more about Janie Korn here and see all the details of Cirque Korn here.
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