Author Archives: Wolfgang

My home is my castle, isn´t it… About my house sculptures

My home is my castle.

This says a lot about what our home, our house is standing for.

House, for most of us this is a synonym for security, for feeling safe and protected. The place where we can feel relaxed and at ease.

So what happens if this feelings are put into question? What when the very foundations of our homes are at risk, like in my little hommage to Goethe “My peace has gone”?

Wolfgang Sandt, Garden of Poetry

My home is my castle. But what happens if my home´s very foundations are shattered?

 

What happens when the house of our soul has no entrance or exit, only a small window allowing us to have only a limited view of the world outside, like in “The house of the soul (for Guido Pompilj) ” ?

 

About the things that inspire my art work

I am asked fairly often what inspires me to create my sculptures.

Wolfgang Sandt, sculptor, My desire is to transform the seemingly solid material stone in something ethereal

My desire is to transform the seemingly solid material stone (here you see the detail of a marble sculpture) in something ethereal

 

A question most probably every artist is familiar with.

Well, when it comes to my translucent sculptures the answer is easy. I am inspired by the sky, the clouds, by water in all its shapes, as well as by fire.

I am fascinated by the movement, the permanent change, the things that escape your grip.

I realise, that in some way it may seem a parodox trying to capture all this rigidly in solid stone..

My intention however is contrary. I don´t want to press the sky or the water into a rigid form.

Rather I desire to transform the seemingly solid substance stone into something moving, changing, ethereal…

Of course I know this is not really possible, but I try to come as near as possible to the “unreachable star”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Trasimeno, Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj´s source of inspiration

Guido Pompilj had a large terrace with a wide view over the lake constructed for his wife, Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj.

That terrace on the third floor of Villa Aganoor Pompilj became one of her favourite places and it is reported that it was here, where she wrote most of her poems, Lake Trasimeno being her infinite source of inspiration.

Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj´s view over Lake Trasimeno

The view over the rooftops of Monte del Lago and Lake Trasimeno has almost remained unchanged since it was a source of inspiration for Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj.

Imagine sitting here, trying to find words for the permanently changing hues of light in the air on the lake, the islands and the distant mountains, Monte Bettona and Monte Amiata.

Try to describe the movement of the restless waters, the storm-tossed waves or the ripples caused by a gentle breeze…

Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj´s terrace still exists and enjoying the view over the lake from here you will easily understand, why she was inspired so much from its beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hommage to Victoria Aganoor Pompilj

One of my sculptures in the Garden of Poetry  I named “Domani!”, “Tomorrow!”.

“Domani” is the title of a poem by Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj. Here are the first lines of her poem

Garden of Poetry, Domani, Tomorrow

Tomorrow…

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow! Unknown sorceress,
imagination wraps you in garments
of joy or sorrow
because she constantly deceives us;
Eternal Sphinx, which grants all
and all is possible…

 

 

 

 

Originally I intended to make sculptures describing some of Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj´s poems, but I discovered quickly that this meant reaching for the unreachable star.

Most of her poems are fairly long and it was not possible to grasp the words and meaning of an entire poem in one sculpture.

I had the feeling my sculptures could be described better by short poems (rather like a haiku) than by trying to use a long poem.

Yet of course I wanted to honour Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj.

Finally after searching through a lot of her poems I found the first lines of “Domani” which fitted very well with the sculpture of a woman´looking far over Lake Trasimeno and the Umbrian hills.

So this is my hommage apart naturally of the artshow as a whole which in my eyes also is a hommage of its own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wings, Ali del Tramonto

Wings, the first sculpture I made for the exhibition and the first poem which came to my mind..

Wings, the first sculpture I made for the exhibition and the first poem which came to my mind..

Wings, Ali del Tramonto

Sundown spreads its wings
Waves in flames
Last salute
Then the lake
Dresses
In the robe of shadow

And here is what inspired me to make this sculpture.

Wolfgang Sandt, Garden of  Poetry

I get the inspiration for my sculptures from the sky and the clouds. Transforming the solid marble into something ethereal is what I aim for.

 

robe_des_schattens_blog

And sometimes the sky seems more solid than the stone…

Fundraising for my “Garden of Poetry” art book at Indiegogo

Does the world become a better place once my “Garden of Poetry” book is made?

I am doing a fundraising campaign for my book "Garden of Poetry". Can you help me?

I wouldn´t dare to claim this. Yet I want to contribute to the beauty of the world and I am confident, my book will be a little contribution.

Honestly I was surprised about the positive and often very emotional feedback I received at the exhibition.

Of course many people don´t have the money to buy a sculpture but I would really like to give everybody at least the opportunity to take the exhibition home in a book.

As you certainly can imagine this is an ambitious aim.  

Apart from the work it requires from my side, a fair amount of money is needed to produce this art book.

Actually I need $ 5000 for the layout and for printing a first edition.

So I am turning to you, trying to raise the money with your help.

To achieve this I will work together with the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo.

Indiegogo makes it possible to transfer money easily via PayPal or credit card and at no cost for contributors. It makes the fundraising transparent and secure.

As a contributor (or even if you´re just curious) you can always follow and control the process of fundraising.

How does it work?

Once the fundraising campaign has started, go to my campaign page on the Indiegogo website (I will provide the link and further information as soon as the campaign can be seen publicly on the Indiegogo website.).

Here you can make a contribution via PayPal or credit card.

If you make a financial contribution, in return you will receive a reward, to thank you for your help.

Indiegogo calls these rewards perks.

There are different perks, according to the height of your contribution.

These are the perks you will receive from me.

1) Contribute to the book with 10 Dollars and receive a mentioning on the list of donators on the “Garden of Poetry” web page. 

2) Contribute to the book with 25 Dollars  or more and receive a photograph of a sculpture of your choice with a personal dedication and the poem that goes with  it and a mentioning on the list of donators on the “Garden of Poetry”  web page. 

3) Early bird bonus: The first three contributors who make a contribution of 25 Dollars or more additionally will receive a copy of the book, with a personal dedication.

4) Contribute to the book with 100 Dollars  or more and receive a copy of the book, with a personal dedication and a mentioning on the list of donators on the “Garden of Poetry” web page. 

5) Early bird bonus: The first three contributors who make a contribution of 100 Dollars or more additionally will receive a copy of the book, in a beautiful hand made marble gift box made especially for this occasion.  

5) Contribute to the book with 500 Dollars  or more and receive your copy of the book, with a personal dedication and a mentioning on the list of donators on the “Garden of Poetry” web page.

Additionally your book will come in a beautiful hand made marble gift box made especially for this occasion.  

) Contribute to the book with 1470 Dollars and come to a one week sculpting class with Wolfgang Sandt in Italy.

Wolfgang Sandt shows to one of his students how to use stone masons tools.

Wolfgang Sandt shows to one of his students how to use stone masons tools.

Of course you receive also your copy of the book, with a personal dedication and a mentioning on the list of donators on the “Garden of Poetry”  web page.

 

Making a financial contribution is probably the easiest way to support my book project.

Yet I need and appreciate every help you are willing to give to make it happen.

So what can you do?

Spread the word.

Tell your friends about the project.

If you are on Facebook, Twitter, Squidoo, Linkedin, Myspace or any other social networks share it with the people you know there.

The more people hear about the project the better it is.