Christian Verginer, born in 1982 in Bressanone, Italy, is considered one of the most valid and original expressionists in contemporary sculpture carvings. His training began by attending the sculpture department of the art school of Ortisei and then continued at the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara. With academic studies and experience in the family studio, shared with his father Willy Verginer and brother Matthias Verginer, Christian Verginer skillfully merges Val Gardena traditions with modern tastes, crafting figurative sculptures that blend childhood wonder and the vitality of the natural world.
Based in the Alto Adige region of northern Italy, Christian Verginer explores the human figure in its relations with other forms of life, such as animals, nature, trees, or various objects of the world. The material used is linden wood, which is left smooth and covered in details by unexpectedly applied acrylic paint. The titles of the works are funny and ironic. While working almost exclusively in linden wood, Verginer uses bronze when a sculpture is placed outdoors to preserve its texture and details. Verginer grew up in a 500-year-long tradition of sacral carving in wood, from which he became comfortable with the material and the expressions that are offered by this classical technique. With wood, Verginer feels comfortable and free to express himself.
“How distant are people from nature? How alienated? These questions have continued to knock on the door of my conscience, and they emerge in my work with persistence. I hope and imagine a better future, a more sensitive and better kinship between humans and nature on our planet. I imagine a world of peaceful coexistence. My art is my voice.”
Christian Verginer absorbs and observes the world surrounding us, which encourages him to develop his artistic language. To Verginer, his artistic vocabulary has always been orbiting around the relationship between man and nature. A non-static ongoing theme, which he believes will follow him throughout his career. Young children feature prominently in his sculptures. He marvelously conveys the innocence of children, their imagination, and questions between self and nature. He subtly combines children’s gazes, expressions, and movements into artworks that not only evoke people’s nostalgia for their childhood but also awaken their long-forgotten innocence and desire to live in harmony with nature. Verginer's work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group shows across Europe, Turkey, the USA, and Canada, gaining international recognition for its distinctive blend of tradition and modernity.