SELFICONOGRAFY IN WOOD

Sculptor PETER VENE is thoroughly occupied with creating images in wood. He has been searching for them in roots and forked branches that he found - he created images in linden wood blocks - and now he is searching for them in barks of willow trees and poplar.

Peter possesses an outstanding sensitivity towards natural materials such as wood, stone and iron. He knows them like as if he lives with them. He feels, thinks and works with wood because he has learned 'Its logic', nature and characteristics which represents the essence of sculpturing as an art and skill.

He picked out aged and excavated recluses of poplar and willow tree all over our country, which were damaged by the force of time and nature itself. He chopped them down and brought them to his place where he could pay closer attention to them. I saw that metamorphosis from the natural forma viva to sculptors impressive large pile of vivid forms, which means the first step of sizifs work in creation of this status.

He has cleaned, has dug the soil out of them and has created amazing human images out of faceless, half turned to dust roots and other parts of trees. He has been discovering and stressing out forms which are similar to human features. Recently he has been working on organomorfic forms which live in all three dimensions.

PETER VENE - SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Peter Vene, born on 13th September 1943 in a small village near the little town of Sevnica. He is the third child of a son blacksmith and a mother, that took care of their farm and did skilled work in sewing.

After high school he became an electrician and had his own business for many years. As a child he began working with wood and his skills grew with the passing years. His first public exhibit was in 1966 on an exhibition together with some other young artists. In 1969 he won 1st prize for his work in Town gallery of Ljubljana.

Since 1988 art has been his full-time job, his way of thinking and expressing feelings. For his unique creations he carefully chooses few-hundred years old hollow trunks and roots of willow and lime tree. He searches for them all over Slovenia and even Croatia, he cleans them and prepares for 5 to 9 years old drying. From old, hollow, by time and nature roughly shaped trunks and roots he creates art - sculptures, dishes and unique furniture.

For Peter one of his most enjoyable experiences is holding Work Groups in which people of all ages can try to make sculptures for themselves. Thus through his mentorship he is able to help others see the beauty in trees, some of which may be 400 years old. These exhibits are held six and eight a year.

Thanks to lovers of wood, experts and collectors of art, his work is becoming more and more popular. His artistic creations are often used as business gifts all around Europe.

Up to now he has displayed his work in more than 80 exhibitions throughout Slovenia, in Croatia and in Fall 2000 also in The Netherlands. He is especially proud of his exhibition in Geleen, The Netherlands, which was, according to critics and visitors, a total success. His works of art can be found in Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Great Britain, USA, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, ...