rolf sachs: herzschuss shot to the heart exhibition

‘ewiger lauf’ by rolf sachs

the latest collection of german artist and designer rolf sachs draws its influences from the swiss region of engadine. entitled ‘herzschuss’ (‘shot to the heart’), the pieces sachs has developed reflect the culture, customs and diverse materials which are typical of this area for which he has a personal tie – it is where the now london-based creative spent his youth.

embracing the craftsmanship – in particular woodworking traditions – of engadine, sachs offers his reinterpretations of everyday objects in poetic and new ways presented at the villa flor and von bartha chesa galleries in schanf, switzerland in coincidence with the st. moritz art masters annual art fair until september 2nd, 2012.

‘the impulse for this exhibition was born from my lifelong emotional bond with the engadine region and alpine culture as well as my profound admiration for their traditional everyday objects and remarkable craftsmanship. the idea of combining the tactile experiences, materials and shapes of those local traditions with both a conceptual approach and a fresh interpretation was very appealing.‘ – rolf sachs

‘herzschuss’ – a reinterpretation of the archetypal ‘stalbellenstuhl’ chair

the entire exhibition derives its name from ‘herzschuss’ which is a series of chairs that sachs developed based on switzerland’s history of markmanship in which he wittily uses local marksmen to shoot heart-shaped details out of the backrests of seats. ‘herzschuss’ reduces the archetypal ‘stabellenstuhl’ chair down to its elementary components, simplifying their decorative elements, but still retaining the essence of the original design.

‘geschichte-t’

recalling his deconstructivist period, sach’s ‘geschichte-t’ designs recall traditional wood drying structures, stripped back and free of the ordinary constraints of glue and nails, celebrating the sensory and tactile qualities of local swiss pine.

general exhibition view at villa flor

alternative views of ‘herzschuss’ and ‘geschichte-t’

rolf sachs’ work installed at von bartha chesa galleries

‘untitled’ ice pick

sachs’ ‘untitled’ ice pick symbolizes the essence of the ‘herzschuss’ exhibition,  taking the traditional and juxtaposing it with unexpected materials.