Exhibition: the philosophy of two great wood carvers

Winterthur’s own Erwin Schatzmann will be exhibiting his work alongside that of fellow wood carver and thinker Wilhelm Lehmann at a beautiful location in Niederhefenschwil, where the latter lived and worked until his death in 1974.

From Sunday 4^th April, the new exhibition will be open to visitors on the afternoons of the first Sunday in every month at the Kobesenmühle, where they will enjoy a unique insight into the dialogue of these two great artists.

Wilhelm Lehmann, born in 1884, moved to the Kobesenmühle with his wife Klara in 1918, where they raised their three children Lukas, Urban and Verena. Wilhelm was convinced that everyone can shape the world freely and responsibly. He saw himself and mankind committed to the good and the beautiful, accepting that human weaknesses such as ignorance, malice or indifference, can always get in the way. Although he communicated with people from near and far, from the quiet seclusion of Kobesenmühle  he could view the world critically from a distance. When he died in 1974 at the age of 90 he left behind an impressive, diverse array of work including root carvings, sculptures in wood and tuff, drawings, woodcuts and texts of various kinds that can be viewed in the exhibition.

Erwin Schatzmann is best known as the creator of monumental, colourfully painted wooden figures from which he has made a living for more than 30 years from his studio Morgenland in Hegi. Morgenland is an evolving kind of settlement serving as a place to live, work and exhibit. In his capacity as a social sculptor, thinker and art animator Erwin spends a large part of his working time on the structural development of this site using reclaimed and recycled materials and his simple way of life leaves behind a very little carbon footprint. Around town he is easily recognized by his extravagant, self-made clothes, which he uses as a form of communication and as part of his work. He has also published a book, Unverblümt, on his thoughts and philosophy of a diverse range of subjects from love and nature to politics, religion and death.

The exhibition and museum, which also has a beautiful garden, will be open from April to October on the first Sunday of the month between 2pm and 5pm.

Kobesenmühle, Kobesenmüli 60, CH-9527 Niederhelfenschwil

By public transport from Winterthur: IR13 to St Gallen, disembark at Wil SG, catch Postbus 725 to Niederhelfenschwil, Neudorf. At the bus stop turn right (signpost Kobesenmühle). At the fork with the linden tree keep left, and after 300m you will find the Kobesenmühle (the lower building).

kobesenmuehle.ch

erwinschatzmann.ch