Peter Demetz

Peter Demetz was born in 1961 in Bolzano-Italy and lives and works in Ortisei (BZ). After completing his studies at the Ortisei Art Institute, Demetz began an apprenticeship under Maestro Heinrich Demetz and earned his Master's Degree in sculpture. Considered one of the most interesting contemporary wooden sculptors, Demetz has been actively supported by organizations including the Swarovski Design Center, Wattens, the LKJ-Sachsen Leipzig, and Daetz-Centrum in Lichtenstein.

 

Peter Demetz is best known for his incredibly realistic hand-carved sculptures of people, caught in contemplative, in-between moments. His installations push beyond the framework of daily life, capturing the simple gestures and unique poses of his subject. His scenes are like snippets of everyday life; suspended in a timeless universe and demarcated from reality through the silence and simplicity of the surrounding space. The artist sculpts his subjects with stunning meticulousness, reproducing tiny folds in clothing, facial wrinkles, and individual strands of hair. Conversely, the figures’ minimalist surroundings are left open to interpretation. Using a few lines, block colors and, above all, theatrical lighting, the artist creates fictitious spaces. It is we who imbue them with meaning, who see them according to our own experiences in the real world.

 

There is never eye contact between the subject and the observer, giving the impression that these figures are existing in their own world: they are aware of being observed, yet leave an empty space between themselves and the observer. Demetz communicates a strong sense of soul-searching in his works, which capture subjects in intimate yet mundane moments during which the true nature of existence is often contemplated.