Ernst Gamperl’s work speaks for itself. It does not try to make a statement. It is a revelation rather than an assertion. It is very quiet indeed. And it is precisely this absence of ego that makes Gamperl’s sculpture’s extraordinary.
Luminaire was pleased to introduce Ernst Gamperl and his impressive body of work to a Chicago audience during the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair 2007.
Combining innovation and tradition is not an easy task; \”new\” or \”obsolete\” are the criteria on which the creations of our world are judged or prejudged, frequently in the space of a few seconds. But these criteria are somewhat problematic, rarely doing justice to the creations so assessed.
Gamperl began his love affair with design at an early age, working as an apprentice cabinet-maker at seventeen. After creating his own workshop in 1990, he began to carve the vessel-like shapes that have come to define his work and are now on available from CoutureLab. Refusing to chop down ancient trees, he works strictly with wooden blocks from fallen trees.
The circle has been his muse over the past 20 years, as he has worked with the organic growth formation of wood and circular patterns he finds within. The rhythmic movement of the grain is miraculously transformed into the sleek minimalist shapes that have become a hallmark of his poetic pieces.
Gamperl awakened guests to the intimate yet imperative relationship between the designer and the material. The creative process is just as important as the final product. Understanding this imbues design with rich narratives, enhancing the minds of those who experience good design.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
