The Choker Series
Hanne Arends
About the Artist
​
Hanne Arends (1995) is not afraid to confront. As a multidisciplinary artist based in Amsterdam, she works with ceramics, glass, marble, textiles, and installation to question identity and the way we see ourselves. Her work rejects polish and perfection, instead carving space for what is raw, absurd, and unapologetically human.
Artistic Vision
​
Central to Hanne’s practice is the human condition: how we express ourselves, how we are seen, and how objects can embody emotions. By embracing imperfection and unpredictability, she creates works that feel raw, alive, and full of tension. Each piece becomes a reflection of both control and surrender.
The Birth of Choker
​
The Choker series was born from a visceral gesture. While shaping clay, Hanne once squeezed a perfectly formed vase shut—the result surprised her. What emerged were powerful, imperfect forms that carried both fragility and force. From this single movement, the series began to grow.
​
Objects of Tension and Character
​
To continue this exploration, Hanne designed a large wooden clamp that allows her to deliberately “choke” a clay cylinder during its creation. Each intervention is unique, each form unpredictable. The outcome is a collection of sculptural objects charged with intensity distinct, raw, and impossible to replicate.
​
Performances & Exhibitions
​
Hanne’s practice is not confined to the studio. Her performances and large-scale installations extend her physical, confrontational approach into live space, turning the act of creation itself into an experience. She has presented her work at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and has been featured at major contemporary platforms including Treasure House Fair in London, Smith-Davidson Gallery, and international design exhibitions. Whether in a gallery, on stage, or in the intimacy of a studio, her work carries the same urgency: a refusal to stay polished, a demand to be felt
