A Pure Pursuit of Harmonious Coexistence with Nature by Sculptor Christian Verginer
Located in the Alto Adige region of northern Italy, there lives a young sculptor, Christian Verginer. He observes the world with a pure heart and sharp eyes, and pursues the underlying reality of life with creation. By applying a small number of contrasting colors, vivid expressions, and introspective themes, his sculptures express the vision in his heart – human beings have the ability to coexist harmoniously with nature without conflict. Through exquisite carving techniques, his works fully express his heartfelt pursuit and more vividly explain the relationship between man and nature.
Young children feature prominently in his sculptures. Whether in “The Tree in Me”, “Different Stories” or “Too Far Too Close”, he marvelously conveys the innocence of children, their imagination, and questions between self and nature. He subtly combines children’s gazes, expressions, and movements into artworks that not only evoke people’s nostalgia for their own childhood but also awaken their long-forgotten innocence and desire to live in harmony with nature.
Christian, his father Willy Verginer, and his twin brother Matt Verginer have their own talents and development in the field of sculpture. They will hold a joint exhibition at a gallery in Nuremberg this May. We hope that our dialogue with Christian will give you a better understanding of him and his works.
Q: Your wood carvings are very unique in terms of their presentation and the meanings they try to convey. Please share with us your training in wood carvings.
A: The valley where I live and work, Val Gardena, has a long tradition of wood carving. It is a tradition that dates back to about 500 years ago when religious sculptures were carved for churches all over the world, but also a production of wooden toys… Therefore, in our valley, there are specific schools of woodworking. My journey naturally began with compulsory schooling, after which I attended an art high school until I was 18. After the state exam, I chose to go to Carrara in Tuscany to attend the academy of fine arts for a year.
I am lucky to also have a father who is a sculptor and therefore after a year in Carrara, I returned home learning a lot in my father’s studio. I have now been working for 22 years together with my father Willy and my brother Matthias.
Q: What are the main themes you try to convey to your viewers through your sculptures? (English: What are the major themes you try to communicate to your viewers through your sculptures?)
A: The main theme that I have had for many years and that I like to communicate through my sculptures is “the relationship between man and nature”.
Here are some words from Bina Sarkar Ellias (India) with my thoughts:
Statement
How distant are people from nature? How alienated? These questions have continued to knock on the door of my conscience, and they emerge in my work with persistence. I hope and imagine a better future, a more sensitive and better kinship between humans and nature on our planet. I imagine a world of peaceful coexistence. My art is my voice.
He was
Christian Verginer [b. 1982 in Bressanone, Italy, studied at the School of Arts in Ortisei, [1995-2000] and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara [2001-2002]. He later learned also, from his sculptor father, Willy Verginer. Christian explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature and the possibility of truth and fantasy fusing in friendship and understanding.
Q: What types of wood do you use for your sculptures?
A: I normally use linden wood, because it has a very light color with no grain and has few knots. I rarely use walnut or apple wood, woods with a darker color and suitable for small sculptures.
Q: You have chosen white and green as your primary colors. What is the meaning of these colors?
A: I often have the green color because it goes so well with my nature theme. Green is symbolic of growth, nature, and ecology but also of hope. I use white mostly when using dark woods like walnut. White gives more contrast with the brown color of the wood, maybe in this case the green doesn’t go very well with the color of the walnut. I also use different grays to mimic or represent the shadow. If you have noticed in the last works, the shadow plays an important role.
Q: Have classical sculptures influenced your art? If so, how? What are your sources of inspiration?
A: Everything that surrounds me and I see affects me indirectly. In school, I studied art history and therefore I know classical art. I give greater importance to contemporary art; I am more interested in seeing what artists of our times are doing. I think however that it affects me more in daily life with global daily problems, such as climate change, and wars….
Q: Are there other themes you have in mind for sculpture? If so, which ones are they?
A: I try to follow a certain line in my works, the sculptures follow a precise theme. At the moment I focus on the theme of nature and therefore I don’t have any other themes at the moment. But who knows if in the future I have a completely different theme.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?
A: I gladly let my sculptures speak; my art is my voice. Through my sculptures, I want to say that people should have a better coexistence and be more sensitive towards mother nature and feel one with nature.
