My first encounter with Eja's 'De Stap' left a deep impression on me. The line that can be drawn from the hollow back, through the buttocks, to the legs is one of unparalleled beauty. The budding adolescence that ensues is enhanced by the position of the supporting leg. The symmetry of the human body broken with one step. This step represents maximum dynamics, with minimal intervention, within the limits of the composition.

The thin dividing line between figuration and abstraction is strongly expressed in the sculptures of Eja Siepman van den Berg. The first impression unconsciously leads the brain astray; a perfect representation of the human body down to the last detail. Then the reflection; the moment we can let go of what we are used to seeing, it is noticeable that a form of abstraction has been applied. The absence of arms, legs and head determine the character of the image. They would only distract from the essence. It is therefore not about human expression, but about visual expression. A unique moment captured in an image. A moment that will never come back, from then on will always change. Impermanence has the body in its grip.

The artworks below by Eja Siepman van den Berg are available at