Christopher Schulz brings nature and technology together in his fearsome yet elegant shark sculpture. Motivated by an impulse to engage his audience in sensory exploration, he invites us to take a step closer and connect with both animal and artwork on a visceral level.
Schulz believes that raising awareness of conservation issues is of the utmost importance. As a boy was fascinated by aquariums , terrariums and displays and would sit for hours in front of a large glass habitat watching the inhabitants. He found it a total escape to see a brief glimpse of the world of a particular creature which, while it may not have been completely realistic, was beautiful, none the less. As an adult however, he is no longer comfortable with the idea of animals in captivity, believing it to be contrary to the laws of nature, and these views have shaped the direction of his work.
In their polished elegance, the sharks are therefore presented like scientific specimens, frozen in space and time. In this way the work can be inspected at close range without the displaced claustrophobia, and allow the viewer to form a connection with both the sculpture and the animal itself. “I feel my works bring me closer to that awareness, at the same time letting me submerge myself in the fascination I had as a child.”
Schulz’s evolution into sculpture has come through working in design fields, art galleries and corporate construction projects where his knowledge and talent have been allowed to grow. For him sculpture was a natural next step, a way to combine his love of art and nature with his expertise in technology and engineering, and to create something tangible, luxurious and refined.
While constantly aspiring towards artistic innovations, Schulz maintains that “a significant work of art should never lose its aesthetic value.” He is influenced by the automobile industry, specifically Ferrari and Mercedes Benz, as the vehicles are aesthetically satisfying but also functional, with a dedication to craftsmanship and timeless beauty. He also finds architecture a stimulus in his understanding of interior and exterior space.
Schulz describes his work as almost Teutonic in its refinement, technical creativity and minimal use of colour. His medium of choice is metal, mainly marine grade stainless steel and bronze as they carry an intrinsic value and quality as well as being truly archival, lasting for potentially thousands of years. Interestingly, he believes his work is defined by the qualities that are directly opposed to his own personality, describing himself as ‘scattered between thoughts and ideas” whereas his work is “structured and perfect, the opposite of myself.”
Born in Laguna Beach, California in 1974, Schulz studied at the Art Institute of So Cal. His work has been exhibited both nationally internationally and is now widely sought after by collectors worldwide. His sculptures are making an impact in public settings from Texas to Taiwan, and with a growing collector base from the worlds of technology and entertainment, he has been commissioned by corporations including Transocean, BP, HBA design group and Isuzu. He divides his time between Houston, Texas and Vancouver, Canada with a studio in both locations.
“With this chosen medium, they [the sharks] become an attractor of curiosity, one that brings us closer to our fears by showing these creatures in an elegant, beautiful way.”
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