JESSICA MATIER
Wolfgang Flad
Berlin, Germany
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Berlin, Germany
Published 31/07/2014 | Updated 31/08/2018
This studio resembles a perfect art exhibit. Wolfgang Flad is working on exuberant pieces, and they „grow“ into and across the whole space. These organic structures are made of wood, which he then fills with paper maché. When you see the actual straight wooden laths you would never ever believe that they could be turned into such forms. He then paints them – sometimes with metallic colour - and abrades them partially until they get the...
Read moreThis studio resembles a perfect art exhibit. Wolfgang Flad is working on exuberant pieces, and they „grow“ into and across the whole space. These organic structures are made of wood, which he then fills with paper maché. When you see the actual straight wooden laths you would never ever believe that they could be turned into such forms. He then paints them – sometimes with metallic colour - and abrades them partially until they get the typical Flad-look.
Besides the sculptures he uses wood panels into which he cuts 3d grooves. There are two ways to make these "splashes". The panels are either lacquered before being shaped out or they are finished with a thick glossy coat after the grooving. Malcolm McLaren, with whom he showed in the famous exhibition „musical paintings“, liked the technique so much that he asked Wolfgang to make boxes for his video „Paris“.
A third strong point of Wolfgang is his furniture design. He does mostly small editions of three plus two, like the table and the stools in his studio. Stunning! He had the idea for the polyhedron stools from an etching by Albrecht Duerer, „Melencolia I“!
When his offspring of five comes for a visit from time to time, they casually occupy these art-history charged artworks and just feel fine.
What is it about your studio space that inspires you?
This is my own personal playground where I can thrive, here I have all the freedoms to make sculptures and to create my own world. This is a very special, and privileged place that even after years makes me rejoice like a child.
What sounds, scents and sights do you encounter while in your studio?
This is the first official act when I enter my studio : music then coffee.
What is your favourite material to work with? How has your use of it evolved throughout your practice?
Simple plain materials. Preferably just like in preschool – papier-mache and wood.
What themes do you pursue?
To mirror the contrasts of life.
If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
„The origin of the world“ by Gustave Courbet, 1866.
What are your favourite places besides your studio?
Does not matter, as long as I'm with my kids.
Berlin - FeldbuschWiesnerRudolph Galerie | http://feldbuschwiesnerrudolph.com/wolfgang-flad.html
Stuttgart - Galerie Reinhard Hauff | http://www.reinhardhauff.de
Köln - Van der Grinten Galerie | http://www.vandergrintengalerie.com
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2005, funding project, Columbus art foundation, Ravensburg, Germany
