Art-Hotel the artist

The varius artist in the Art-Hotel of Val Gardena

Aron Demetz

The sculpture of Aron Demetz is perfectly attuned to today's international debate on sculpture: his plastic research has not abandoned its historical roots -anatomy, technical skill and materials- on the contrary, it has turned them into generators of new forms of experimentation.
The process of working with wood is the foundation of Demetz's oeuvre and aesthetic. Using an ancient woodcarving technique that originated in the 17th century in South Tyrol, Demetz explores the possibilities and limitations of wood as a material and celebrates its textures and ability for transformation by deploying a range of innovative techniques, including controlled burning, lacerating the wood or applying layers of natural resin. Indeed, his sculptures evoke themes of injury and healing; of metamorphosis.

The work of Aron Demetz can be inscribed in the circle of the combined evolution of mind and hand, prehension and apprehension. In this circle, each problem leads to reflection and action, which in turn generates new problems. By this way, the addition of resin and mushrooms is instrumental in the artist's research process.
Resin as a therapeutic element, used by nature in the process of repairing the structural lesions of plant trunks, and mushrooms as natural indicators of unstable and morbid conditions.

Christian Holzknecht "Stl"

Christian Holzknecht was born 7 June 1970. He works in Ortisei, where he also lives with his family.

Coming from a major painter family, he began his apprenticeship in this field quite early in his life. He was taught by his father, his mother and his older brother.

After successfully passing his exam, Christian took several courses and received further education in various painting techniques; additionally, his numerous travels and artistic trips formed an open worldview.
To this day, he still enjoys Land-art and uses earth pigments and connection parts for his art.

Christian's artistic education path included two study periods in Florence as well. 1991 he moved to the city for the first time, enrolling in the private school "ART E...". In this school, he absolved courses in the use of watercolors, tempera and oil colors, as well as in depicting still life and acts. During and after his studies, Christian Stl painted several portraits and panels, at first for himself, later for others.

Ivan lardschneider

Ivan Lardschneider learned carving from scratch and spent some years in his youth as an itinerant wood-carver perfecting traditional techniques with masters of the craft. This command of his material is a sure foundation for his art, yet the success of this artist amidst the impressive peaks of the Dolomite Alps, is due to the fact that he early on developed and still continues to refine his very own pictorial language.

Lardschneider’s confident play with proportions, the word is permissible especially in view of the works presented here, is by no means “over intellectual”, but rather marked by a great deal of humour. It is a kind of humour that is immediately understandable across the borders of countries and cultures.

Gerald Moroder

Gerald Moroder’s work is characterized by a vital tension and an innate longing. His figures, lean and reduced to essential shapes, strive towards another place, craving for a way, a revelation. They are images of the human essence, timeless figures without any connections to space and time.

He is the son of a new culture, a contemporary neophyte, who dares, experiments and mutates. The material chosen by the artist, made and shaped with his hands, is a way to express his feelings. His mountains lie within those unique compounds made of stone, earth, sand and iron. The fundamental transition from the „convenience“ of a pre-established natural element awaiting crafting and manufacturing like wood, and the „refinement“ of a unique, authentic, original mix. Although being and appearance have been in contrast ever since, Moroder‘s sculpture asserts itself for its being.
His inner journeys are translated into the shapes of these slender and stark figures, as he addresses the radical research in order to come as closer to transcending the matter itself.
To be or not to be. Pride and will. His work is not only contemporary, it is not only aesthetically satisfying and it is not art for its own sake. Moroder brilliantly succeeds in communicating with each of us, in becoming familiar with our inner being and in accompanying us elsewhere, leading us to something more beautiful and something higher. Raise the spirit, not only the eye.

Armin Grunt

Armin Rifesser also known as “Grunt” expresses a tension that explodes with vigour through decisive sweeping movements loaded with expressiveness.

Shapes emerge from the wood following the characteristics ingrained in the starting material. What was once a tree continues to manifest its peculiarities but the artist imbibes it with his own vision, and so between the gnarled knots emerge bodies, faces and limbs, a renewed humanity ready to rise up from the depths to conquer everyday life.
Although deeply linked to the tradition of Gardena sculpture, Armin "Grunt" for years has been looking for new ways of expression that are clearly visible in the exhibition itinerary he offers.
Armin Rifesser after completing his three years at the Art School of Ortisei attended the Artistic Professional School of Val Gardena.
In 2004 he enthusiastically joined Unika, a partnership of more than 40 artists, sculptors and craftsmen from Val Gardena born with the aim of enhancing and promoting the tradition, professionalism and incredible creative force of the Ladin Valley.
Armin Rifesser has participated in numerous art groups in Italy and abroad, distinguishing himself during participation in various symposia and competitions also overseas, for his dry and essential language with which he outlines his own poetic way.

Jonas Pitscheider

Jonas Pitscheider was born in 1966.
He attended the Professional School of Arts in Ortisei, serving at the time a four-year apprenticeship.

He started working on his own and gained a specialized training thorough education journeys, personal contacts with several artists and classes of painting and sculpture.
Since 1990 he has exported his works to several European countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as to the United States of America, Canada and Japan.

For realization of his works, he chooses wood, but he also uses other working materials such as bronze, stone etc.

In 1988 he partecipated at the international sculpture contest in Cortina d‘Ampezzo
From 1989 to 1996 his works have been set in exhibition in Cologne