Ernst Gamperl: Urkraft

The relationship that internationally renowned artist Ernst Gamperl has developed with wood as a living material, together with the knowledge of the inescapable nature of serendipity, is a source of creative inspiration as well as the driving force behind his work—one revolving around the artist’s deep connection with nature and respect for his raw material. Trees are an integral part of creation, symbols of life and strength that Gamperl has studied for years in symbiosis with their essence and nature. His unconventional approach to the material, combined with a revolutionary technique and an original interpretation, results in works that are captivating in their elegance and charisma and stir the viewer, who discovers something never before encountered.

The new monograph offers a comprehensive examination of Ernst Gamperl's life and work. Full-page photographs present Gamperl's sculptures in all their dramatic beauty. Numerous black-and-white images illustrate the creative process. Individual chapters introduce the various groups of works, including his well-known Tree of Life project: a giant, approximately 230-year-old, 33-ton oak tree that was uprooted by a hurricane. 97 vessels were created from its wood, giving the venerable tree a dignified afterlife. Further chapters are devoted to, among other things, the Houghton Oak Project, his work for Issey Miyake, and the current exhibition at the Bavarian National Museum, Munich.


Exhibitions: Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich (DE), 14.5.–5.10.2025.
Sarah Myerscough Gallery, London (UK), 3.10.–29.11.2025.