Impressive animals carved in wood with... chainsaw

When you say chainsaw you almost always think of something rough, felling or "topping" trees, splitting firewood and other such activities. Harder to come to mind are arduous, delicate, chainsaw-related thoughts. And yet, you can make art with a chainsaw and there are artists whose work is charged with sensitivity.

One of these artists is Jurgen Lingl-Rebetez, a German artist who has been living in France for some time. He creates imposing sculptures of animals while delicately wielding a chainsaw.

Jurgen was born in 1971 in Bad Tolz, Bavaria, and has shown an inclination towards art since childhood. He drew everything he saw around him: plants, animals, buildings, people, landscapes.

The first public exhibition of his work, however, took place much later, after his graduation from Josef-Effner Grammar School, when he was 20 years old. In his first exhibition, he shows a series of nude studies in a gallery in Dachau, using various techniques.

After completing his compulsory civilian service at Schonbrunn, Jurgen began training in sculpture as an apprentice to the master Hans-Joachim Seitfudem. His dedication to this passion led him to a first prize at a competition in Munich and a second place at a national competition in Bavaria.

In 1966 he moved to Switzerland and started working as a freelance artist. It was also during this period that he began to use the chainsaw to make sculptures. In 1999 he moved to France, where he still lives and works.

His classical education in the field allows him a great deal of creative freedom, and he can tackle various subjects without encountering any technical problems. He can deal with subjects such as animals, portraits, nudes, as well as religious subjects such as angels or holy monuments and figures.

Yurgen has a strong personal style that shows his passion and brilliance in every piece of wood he works with. His carvings are three-dimensional chainsaw drawings, and the splashes of colour make the impressive sculptures even more vibrant.

Jurgen Lingl-Rebetez has participated in exhibitions in France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, where he has won numerous awards. His works are in public and private collections in various European countries as well as in Canada, USA, Russia, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

(source: lingl-sculpture.com)