Decades of oak sculptures
- Konrad creates wooden objects at the intersection of sculpture and architectural design
- He considers his practice to be equal parts design and craft
- Oak is his material of choice
Konrad Koppold was raised on a farm and learned to turn wood during his carpentry apprenticeship in the early 1980s. He attended the University of Applied Sciences for Design in Augsburg, going on to study interior design in Rosenheim. Self-taught for decades, Konrad mastered the art of hollow turning and dedicated his creatve practice to woodturning for many years, experimenting with asymmetrical forms crafted on the lathe. Konrad was among 30 finalists of the renowned LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize in 2022 with a vessel he had turned on four axes. In more recent years, his work artistic focus has become increasingly sculptural, though he remains faithful to his preferred material, oak wood. "The conceptual designer in me is always present in my work, along with the craftsman," he says.
Interview
- How do you go about your work?
- The wood I work with comes from trees that have fallen during a storm or had to be cut down for safety reasons. Before working with the material, I create sketches of my ideas and make small clay models based on them. These serve as design templates as I use a chainsaw and self-developed tools to carve the wood and accentuate its sculptural qualities.
- What is the reason behind your almost exclusive use of oak wood?
- I am captivated by the shape of old oak trees. Their coarse-pored, at times untamed, grain fascinates me. When the wood is brushed, it reveals a richly textured surface that feels irrestibily inviting to the touch.
- What defines your artistic vision?
- My artistic approach extends well beyond traditional craftsmanship, weaving a precise, architectural formal language together with the wood’s vibrant, inherent character. I create works in which tradition and innovation, technical precision and artistic experimentation enter into a dynamic dialogue.
- How does the sense of touch feature in your works?
- I brush the outer surfaces of my objects extensively as they tend to be rough from the chainsaw, while I finely sand the inner surfaces. This contrasting surface treatment gives my works a fascinating tactile quality and allows the growth rings of the wood to emerge in all their beauty. My pieces engage the viewer visually, while also inviting a tactile experience of the strength and structure of the wood.
Konrad Koppold is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1985
Where
Konrad Koppold
