István Csákány
István Csákány (b. 1978, Sfantu Gheorghe) is known for his large-scale installations employing wood as a material. Bernsteinzimmer (2010) meticulously reproduces a workshop crammed with tools, boxes, and bags, with pictures and notices pinned to the walls, but in which the craftsman remains noticeably absent. Csákány draws on personal memories of his father's workspace (amongst others) in a sculptural work that recalls the phenomenon of the Wunderkammer or cabinets of curiosities. The German title of the work makes explicit reference to the famous historical Amber Room, an early eighteenth century masterpiece of Baroque craftsmanship decorated with carved amber panels. The chamber was initially installed at Berlin City Palace before being presented as a gift from the Prussian King Frederick William I to Tsar Peter the Great in 1716 and transferred to St. Petersburg. Csákány’s work contrasts absence with presence, the static wooden environment becoming animated through the presence of the viewer.
Artworks
István Csákány Bernsteinzimmer, 2010 Bois, ampoule, verre
400 x 400 x 516 cm
Collection Mudam Luxembourg
Acquisition 2011
© Photo : Rémi Villaggi | Mudam Luxembourg