Discover Germany | Special Theme | Swiss Design Highlights
Art as visual enlightenment Art is sometimes an intangible concept rather than a tangible corpus of art. Karl Imfeld, Swiss sculptor and manufacturer of modern furniture, is most definitely a creator of palpable art. TEXT: SILKE HENKELE I PHOTOS: KARL IMFELD
Karl Imfeld always had a knack for arts. From very early on he was interested in a variety of materials and their various manners of refinement. He consequently became a trained sculptor and has been working as an independent artist since 1972. Imfeld opened his own studio in 1974 in Lungern (central Switzerland)
where today he himself is professionally training future sculptors. Karl Imfeld’s artistic development and mission “At the beginning of my artistic career, my oeuvre was primarily figurative,”reminisces Imfeld. “Yet after so and so many years
Main image: Solid table handmade from walnut wood (270x95x75). Bottom left: Two side tables/ stools made from maple and walnut wood (43x43x38). Bottom middle: Solid sideboard made from walnut wood (270x60x40); also available with glass sliding doors.
working as an artist, my style has become much more abstract. Today I find that I am mainly inspired by natural elements like wood, stone, water and by basic forms like circles, triangles, and squares,” concludes Imfeld. Karl Imfeld’s prefers working with walnut, maple and cherry tree wood, as well as natural stone, and he sees his oeuvre as a chance to touch people. “By way of my art, the materials I am using and the forms I am creating I want to challenge traditional ways of perception; moreover, I want to get close to people, touch them and make them aware of those things that are valuable and dear,” explains Imfeld on the intended mission of his art. New manners for creative output: imfeld cubi In that, Imfeld has found an entirely new way to get in contact with people as the described changed manner of artistic
12 | Issue 47 | February 2017