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Artist information:
Jonathan Haner
Sibbhult, Sweden
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Work collaborators:
Army of Babies
 Sue Lott

Ted Lott

Gretchen Biggs

Teresa Holmberg
Jonathan Haner is showing at:
The B.O.B. The B.O.B.
20 Monroe Ave Nw
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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Jonathan Haner
Artist bio: Born September 22, 1969 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
I spent a good portion of the 90's traveling around the US, settling briefly in places like Boulder CO, Portland OR, I even worked a bit up in Alaska. From 1996-99 I lived in an occupied house/squat in east Berlin which is now the thriving art district 'Friedrichshain'. Together with my Swedish partner, Teresa Holmberg, I moved to southern Sweden where we have both been working full-time as artists ever since. I work primarily in project form. The material or media I work with varies greatly depending on the the project at hand. Over the past two years, Teresa and I have produced 14 giant mosaic-prints based on the meetings between cancer researchers and cancer patients. This is now a touring exhibition throughout Sweden (in cooperation with the University of Lund's Oncology dept). I've also been busy producing 20 ft. totem poles for a children's sculpture park which lies in the forest on the outskirts of our village.
Artist statement: I've always thrilled over seeing things converge in a timely, yet seemingly mystical way. I like to experience the symmetry of coincidence...all the while denying the existence of it. I like that 'La Grande Vitesse' turns 40 the same year I do. I like that ArtPrize opens the day after my birthday. I like that I moved so far away from my hometown, only to return 20 years later with a sculpture of a giant baby.
About the work:
Title: La Grande Bébé

Art form: 3-D

Medium: plastic tarp - plastic filling

Year created: 2009

Description of work: La Grande Bébé is a giant, fat, faceless baby sewn from heavy-duty, white, tarpaulin material, and filled with a combination of soft plastic bags and styrofoam.

The image of the doll is a photograph of a much smaller work intended for demonstration purposes only.

Work statement: The sculpture is meant to be experienced viscerally. I encourage people to lie down in its lap and feel small again. The baby is generic by design, yet somehow evokes something primal and nurturing in the viewer.

Technical details:
Work width: n/a
Work height: n/a
Work depth: n/a
Required venue ceiling: n/a
Required venue door height: n/a
Required venue door width: n/a
Required wall linear footage: n/a
Required venue square footage: n/a
Additional considerations:
Audio/video needed: No
Electrical needed: No
Lighting needed: Yes
Internet access needed: No
Ground floor access needed: No
Indoor space needed: No
Outdoor space needed: Yes
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