Breadcrumb
Exhibition “Robert-Rudolf Volk. Artworker”
20.02.2020
On Thursday, 20 February at 5.30 p.m. the exhibition “Robert-Rudolf Volk. Artworker” will be opened in the small gallery of the Tartu Art House. The exhibition is curated by Indrek Grigor (Tartu Art Museum).
The exhibition assembles a selection of sculptures by the stone cutter Volk. It is therefore an homage to the oldest member of the Tartu Artists’ Union and a sincere tribute to a fellow artworker by the curator Indrek Grigor. Volk was not a mere craftsman but also the author of many tombstones and has modelled various sculptures. Today, when the contribution of artworkers to the process of creating an art work is increasingly valued, it is past time for the first personal exhibition of Robert-Rudolf Volk.
Grigor adds: “It might not always be clear if the activities of an artist can be considered working and if the result is something that has a measurable value. However, when it comes to the apprentices, assistants or craftsmen, who help the artists with producing their oeuvre, then they are definitely working for the artists and therefore their output must be considered valuable in today’s production-focused world. It seems that the position of a lone master has started to wobble and it can only exist with the help of artworkers.”
Robert Rudolf Volk (b 1921) worked in the studio of master sculptor Anton Starkopf from the end of the 1940s to the artist’s death. Afterwards, he was employed in the art foundation of the Tartu Artists’ Union and taught the technique of stone cutting in the Tartu Art School from 1975 to 1990. He is the oldest member of the Tartu Artists’ Union and this is his first personal exhibition.
The exhibition will remain open until 15 March.
The exhibition assembles a selection of sculptures by the stone cutter Volk. It is therefore an homage to the oldest member of the Tartu Artists’ Union and a sincere tribute to a fellow artworker by the curator Indrek Grigor. Volk was not a mere craftsman but also the author of many tombstones and has modelled various sculptures. Today, when the contribution of artworkers to the process of creating an art work is increasingly valued, it is past time for the first personal exhibition of Robert-Rudolf Volk.
Grigor adds: “It might not always be clear if the activities of an artist can be considered working and if the result is something that has a measurable value. However, when it comes to the apprentices, assistants or craftsmen, who help the artists with producing their oeuvre, then they are definitely working for the artists and therefore their output must be considered valuable in today’s production-focused world. It seems that the position of a lone master has started to wobble and it can only exist with the help of artworkers.”
Robert Rudolf Volk (b 1921) worked in the studio of master sculptor Anton Starkopf from the end of the 1940s to the artist’s death. Afterwards, he was employed in the art foundation of the Tartu Artists’ Union and taught the technique of stone cutting in the Tartu Art School from 1975 to 1990. He is the oldest member of the Tartu Artists’ Union and this is his first personal exhibition.
The exhibition will remain open until 15 March.
Additional information:
Tanel Asmer
Tanel Asmer
Producer at Tartu Art House
Tel: +372 5562 1192
E-mail: produtsent@kunstimaja.ee
Tartu Art House
Vanemuise 26
51014 Tartu
Wed–Mon 12.00–18.00
