Self-taught Artist and One Who Walks the Line
Ludwig Haas was born in 1947 in Feldbach, Styria. After having completed an apprenticeship as a metal worker and spending several years as a retail salesman, he concentrated solely on his artistic endeavors from 1983-1990. During this time he dealt with painting and various works of sculpture as well as sculpting in stone and forging.

In 1990 he began focusing on steel and special steels. Using a 3D versatile gouging technique (the so-called "ARC Air Hohlmeißel Verfahren” [ARC air gouging Method]") he set milestones in "classic" direct metal sculpting. A broad variety of even the most resistant materials became accessible in a simple carving process.

In May 2001 his first individual exhibition was held and a documentation of the unusual works of metal art was put together.  In the meantime there have been either solo exhibitions or the artist has taken part in exhibitions in Eisenstadt, Cologne, Kapfenberg, Zürich, Florenz, Jennersdorf and New York. In 2007 and 2008 public works could be seen in a church in St.Martin a.d. Raab, at the gateway to Boehler steel in Kapfenberg (“MENSCH UND STAHL”) and at Forum Investkredit – Volksbank in Vienna (“sensitive power”).


Unique sculpture with a unique method
Statement by Dr. Wolfram Kalt, August 2006

"The metal sculpture work of Ludwig Haas does not fit into traditional schemes.  It is not mainstream art at all, but is worth looking at; it represents outstanding, identifiable and independent modern work. Universally valid sensitive messages become everlasting, devoted to the human being, to emotions, relationships and the environment.

The steel sculptures of Ludwig Haas are strictly reduced in shape but are very expressive. They show an imposing surface, which brings the basic material into force extraordinarily. This is a consequence of the atypical process of creation which the artist uses extensively to perform three dimensional “direct steel sculpting”*).

*) Direct steel sculpting via “ARC Air gouging method” (melting and removing process)
As does happen in classical sculpture, Ludwig Haas begins with a "pre-form" (block of raw material) which consists, in his case, of steel or special steel. The sculptor shapes the form using a simple hand-held electrode and blasting with definite movements at a temperature of more than 4000°C, chiseling centimeter wide areas of liquid molten mass from the surface of the pre-form.
The characteristic grooves and ridges, body lines and facial features, structures stamp a mark on his work in a distinctive manner, like the chisel marks of a sculptor working in stone. Emotional messages of completely new worlds of expression with steel are the result.

In his sculpture work between the years 1990 and 2002, the unique methodical access to steel treatment is clearly documented.  Steel Sculptures like “Roots” (1991), Mask (1992), Kiss (1993), Mother I (1994) and II ( 2000), Admiration (1997), Straight ahead (1994-2000), Deus (2001) or Cry in Steel (2002) are masterpieces of modern steel art.  They show high symbolic content and impressive—and in some cases even archaic—form language, combined with the coolness and elegance of steel.

In the years 2002 to 2005 a first comprehensive sculpture cycle, the so called “Human Plants” emerged.  22 sculptures made of steel—3.2 tons in all—were produced using a mixed technique of assembling and direct steel sculpting.  Strange Creatures, half humans, half plants, wish to make us aware of how mankind treats Nature.  They want to show us a mirror and point out new possibilities of a better coexistence.

In the first half of 2006 “Face of art”, a series of some smaller steel work was created, bringing the artist back to pure steel carving.  Sculptures like “Head in corset” or “Faces” open a very critical view on the superficiality of the current art business.

“Food of the world” was created in late 2006.  It impresses by a completely reduced perspective on the global chance to divide resources in a more fair way. The world is symbolized by a big dispenser in the form of a vase full of food, and the continents are empty basins which can be filled by humans as they please on an equal or unequal level.

In 2007 an altar in steel was created for the church of St. Martin a.d. Raab and the basic work for MENSCH UND STAHL (“Human and Steel”)  was carried out at Boehler steel in Kapfenberg. For the new gateway of the company a symbol in steel was created to welcome all visitors. The sculpture was finalized and introduced to public in 2008.  It could be that this was quite possibly the biggest public project in Austria in 2007/2008 but indeed it was one of the most fascinating projects. The outstanding process of involving people and all the whole company into the creation of the sculpture was described within a book edited by Boehler:

“Among the factory buildings, in surroundings not catered to sculpture, Ludwig Haas reaches out to the people, drawing them into a sculptural project that knows no equal.
With his idea of MENSCH UND STAHL at the gateway to Boehler, Ludwig Haas has been accepted by the humble worker in the plant just as he has been taken to by those who run the company.
From its inception to the final step in the process, his 15 ton sculpture has become a part of the whole company, and its own processes. This is what is commonly referred to as identity: identifying with one‘s own creation and with what it is one stands for.
Perhaps it was the sculptor‘s charisma that was ever so convincing it its modest words and impressive deeds. In his own way he attracted others to his unifying idea by renouncing all of the conventional trends and priorities of art.
The material special steel is important for him as it breaks through the confines that no one else sees because they are too toilsome, too risky. The sculptor confronts them in his creative process. He breaks them down once more in his work, just as they originate. Some say he is a classical, machining sculptor; a painter in steel say the others - but neither notion matters.
What matters is that he succeeds in astonishing with something special; something people delight in, something they are a part of. Anybody will respect that, just like the workforce at Boehler in Kapfenberg, who have to cope with their lives under difficult conditions, all the while accomplishing something exceptional.

MENSCH UND STAHL greets you each time you pass through the gateway to Boehler, symbolically reminding those arriving and those leaving that it is »a part of Boehler - a part of you.”

With all these steel sculpture work Ludwig Haas has embarked on unusual paths in sculpture. In his search for expression he has never avoided coming to terms with anything "difficult"; this embodies his work and is a sign of particular concentration, vitality and creativity."


Exhibitions
1988-1991: First activities, group exhibitions and a small solo exhibit on his "art farm" in St. Martin a.d.Raab (amongst other events “art picnic" in September 1988; exhibition in July 1989; action "Zer- Stören" (de-struction) in August 1990; initiative "open valley - Nyitott Völgy" in July 1991); at that time projects in cooperation with Walter Schmögner, Franz Koppendorfer and Peter Hartinger.
1993 – 2000 Various group exhibitions in Austria and Germany
2001/01: "Austrian Sculptures and Designs after 1945”, Group exhibition, Gallery of "Art and Trade" in Graz
2001/05: SOLO exhibition and presentation of the artistic book "4500 degrees", gallery halls at the BoxMark Company, Jennersdorf
2001/11: Two person exhibition at the Burgenland State Gallery in Eisenstadt (together with P. Mühlbauer)
2002/03 Presence at Kunst Köln (Art in Cologne): Ludwig Haas left "Traces" (exhibited at the Gallery of “Art and Trade”, Graz);
Group exhibition in Köthen/ St. Martin's Church "From the Virtual to Reality"
2003/04: Group show, Art Zürich
2003/11: SOLO exhibition combined with "Presentation of the Boehler Art Calendar 2004", Hotel Böhlerstern in Kapfenberg
2003/12: Group show, Biennale Florence
2004/09: "Church in Contrast", Solo exhibit, Cultural Autumn Jennersdorf
2004/12: Group show, Agora Gallery, New York
2007: “Human plants” SOLO birthday exhibition on the occasion Ludwig Haas' 60th birthday celebration in his home town of Feldbach in Styria


Awards
1996: Winner of the Burgenland "Art for Life" competition, Gallery Weihergut in association with Elektra Bregenz
2003: Artist of the month of June at the renowned web art gallery of Barbara Tampieri (It)
2006/04, 2004/11, 2003/11: Artwork of the month at graphikboerse.de


Art in Public
Mörbisch: large bust in bronze for the founder of the “Mörbisch Festival on the Lake” Chamber Music Singer Herbert Alsen.
2007 steel altar created for the church of St. Martin a.d. Raab
2007/ 2008 MENSCH UND STAHL (“Human and Steel”) at the entrance to Boehler in Kapfenberg
2008 “Silent Power” at the new Volksbank Foyer, Kolingasse 19 in 1090 Vienna


Publications
2001: Artistic book: "4500 degrees"
2002: “The steely Ludwig” by Gottfried Pröll in: Kultur und Bildung (art and education), No.3 2002, pp. 4-5
2003: Boehler Art Calendar 2004
2004: “Innovation and vision carved in steel” by Lawrence Downes in: Gallery and Studio Vol 7, No. 2, Nov.-Dec 2004/Jan 2005, page 30
2007: Photo book “Human Plants” edited by Wolfram Kalt in German in 2007 (ISBN 978-3-902347-14- 7)
2008: Book MENSCH UND STAHL, published on the occasion of the unveiling of the sculpture MENSCH UND STAHL (“Human and Steel”) - THE GATEWAY TO BÖHLER, BY LUDWIG HAAS. (ISBN 978-3- 902347-17-1)


Works, Achievements, Projects
1983: Newcomer to the art world, he begins his search in painting as one of the “young and wild" artists in Neumarkt a.d. Raab

1990: concentration on steel sculpture (idea, development and perfection of classic steel carving by the use of ARC air gouging method)

1998: Project at BORG Jennersdorf.  Working with pupils of the 11th year of school he created an emblem for Jennersdorf.  He gave advice on everything from the model to the final bronze sculpture.

2000: State competition for the Year of Peace, implementation of the winning project for a school competition with the 4th grade of the Rudersdorf primary school.  The resulting "Peace Sculpture 2000 in Bronze” was unveiled at Burg Schlaining in Burgenland.

For 5 years coorganization and supervision of two workshops for international sculptors annually in the artist's village of Neumarkt/Raab, "From Reflection to Sculpture" (conjointly with Paul Mühlbauer).

2002-2005: Realization of the project of "Human Plants" (with graphs and text, in 2003 he shows some initial painted emotions as a background for the Boehler Art Calendar)

2006: Project "Face of art" and “”Food of the world”

2007: Steel altar for the church of St. Martin a.d. Raab

2007 / 2008: MENSCH UND STAHL (“Human and Steel”) – a project involving people and all processes of a steel company into the generation of a challenging piece of public artwork

Year-round studio exhibition at the artist's home in St. Martin / Raab, southern Burgenland.  For reservations call +43 664 2727097.