While most people are adept at chopping solid tree trunks into firewood, Jürgen Lingl-Rebetez transforms this solid wood into works of art, using not only hammer and chisel but a chainsaw too! This trained woodcarver has gained popularity as a sculptor par excellence, what with his artistic creations in crude wooden trunks chopped and chiselled into human and animal forms.
Born in 1971 in Bavaria, Lingl-Rebetez displayed artistic abilities from the very beginning. This prompted him to join an art course in Munich, Germany. However, he left it midway to join Master Hans-Joachim Seitfudem, a master woodcarver at his home. It took all of two years for his mentor to hone his woodcarving skills.
It was the appreciation he received in Germany for the work that motivated him to become an independent sculptor. Wielding a chainsaw and other woodcarving implements, Lingl-Rebetez turns deadwood into works of art. It is really a marvel how he visualizes the image he wants to create out of a tree trunk stock and uses the chainsaw to bring it into a crude shape.
From here, he takes up hammer and chisel and chips away the wood, and knives to engrave the surface into details.This done, he then takes up his paints and brushes to do a touch up to create incredible real-life sculptures of animals and humans.
Lingl-Rebetez’s works of art have been exhibited in famous galleries of Europe, such as Leonhard’s Gallery, Antwerpen, Belgium; AbsoluteArt Gallery, Brügge, Belgium; Paul Janssen Gallery, France; Saint-Tropez & Grimaud, France; Schortgen Gallery, Luxembourg; ArtCatto Gallery, Algarve, Poland; Sylvie Platini Gallery, Lyon/Veyrier, France; Escarpolette Gallery, Port Navallo, France; and Lazoukine Gallery, Deauville, France.
Lingl-Rebetez’s creative woodcarving has also become a subject of three short films – ‘Realization of the bust of La Marianne’, ‘Realization of a Portrait’ and ‘The Chickens of Marans’.
Lingl-Rebetez’s artistic eye and sincere virtuosity are quite apparent in all his works. Little wonder he has been conferred with Paul-Louis Weiler prize awarded by the Institut de France in 2003 and with Edouard-Marcel Sandoz prize in 2005. Besides these, he is also a proud recipient of other prizes and awards – Paul Belmondo, Salon Nation of Animal Artists, City of Bourges, Animal Festival Rambouillet and City of Munich.
What strikes the viewers about Lingl-Rebetez’s sculptures is their crudeness that adds to their beauty and realness. Today, this master wood carver enjoys an impressive following of over 10,000 on Facebook and much more on other social media platforms.
Jürgen Lingl-Rebetez Artist
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