* 1951, Austrian sculptor

The Going-based sculptor and painter Roman Johann Strobl has made a primarily name for himself with his delicate as well as expressive and cheerful and dynamic wood sculptures among art collectors and gallery owners.

1951-born Austrian comes from a traditional family of woodcarvers. At the age of 14, he learned the craft of wood carving in his father's factory. In order to deepen its capabilities, Strobl studied sculpture under Professor Sebastian Cosamale Italian Todi. It was followed by numerous trips to the Middle East, to India and to the roots of Greek mythology in Crete, the sustained inspired the artist in the choice of subjects of his sculptural work.

Strobl experimented with a wide variety of techniques and materials, where the stone sculpture increasingly at the Centre of his artistic career moved a long time. In 1997 he turned to again forever wood as a means of expression, but no longer with the carving knife, but with the electric chain saw with which he incredibly precise created his objects like no other.

Strobl Œuvre in addition to a number of expressive picture cycles on canvas as well as drawings sculptures made of wood, marble and stone. Since the mid-80s, his works are regularly represented at exhibitions in Germany and Austria. His sculptural work in the public space (Kunst am Bau) presented on buildings in Munich, Hanover and in Austria.

Moreover Strobl was seen at Chainsaw performances, so among other things in the Austrian Pavilion at the EXPO 2000 in Hannover and in Ahrensburg (2001), where he portrayed the Italian sculptor Bruno Bruni.

Designation for an art object (sculpture, installation), which is produced according to the will of the artist in multiple copies in a limited and numbered edition.

Artist's multiple contributed to "democratization" of art as the work was made available and affordable for a wider audience.

An alloy of copper with other metals (especially with tin) used since ancient times.

Bronze casting:

When casting bronze, artist usually applies the lost-wax technique which is dating back more than 5000 years. It's the best, but also the most complex method of producing sculptures.

Sculpture "The Book Reader" by Ernst Barlachs is shown here as an example:

First, the artist forms a model of his sculpture. It is embedded in a liquid silicone rubber composition. Once the material has solidified, the model is cut out. The liquid wax is poured in the negative mould. After cooling down, the wax casting is removed from the mould, provided with sprues and dipped into ceramic mass. The ceramic mass is hardened in a kiln, and the wax flows out (lost mould).

Now we finally have the negative form, into which the 1400 ° C hot molten bronze is poured. After the bronze had cooled down, the ceramic shell is broken off and the sculpture comes to light.

Now the sprues are removed, the surfaces are polished, patinated and numbered by the artist himself or, to his specifications, by a specialist. Thus, each casting becomes an original work

For lower-grade bronze castings, the sand casting method is often used which, however, does not achieve the results of more complex lost wax technique in terms of surface characteristics and quality.

Related links:
Sand casting