pin_dropARTESILVAMichael Hagenauer, Wengergasse 21, 5203 Köstendorf

From mechanical engineer to wood carver

As a trained mechanical engineer, I have dedicated more than 25 years of my professional life to metal. Precision, straightforwardness and predictability were my daily companions. I believe that "lifelong learning" was something I was born with, because during these 25 years I also completed numerous additional training programmes and studied industrial engineering while working.

I have also been an active member of the Wallersee Perchten for over 30 years. At some point, this gave rise to the idea of carving a mask under professional guidance as part of a carving course. It was a great experience and the perfect counterpoint to my professional work. So I took further carving courses. Over time, this "hobby carving" developed into my love of wood and, above all, its special character: it is unpredictable and changes direction unexpectedly... 

Career change with obstacles

And that's what I did - in September 2019, at the age of 47, I quit my job and started a 3-year apprenticeship as a wood sculptor in Carinthia. I learnt to carve with a knife and chainsaw and taught myself how to turn, mill and engrave.

The big goal was to become self-employed: a dream I had harboured for many years.

But it was not an easy time for our whole family: as I already had an academic degree, we had to finance the entire education ourselves. My two sons were 12 and 14 years old at the time and I had to keep travelling to Carinthia for weeks at a time for the mandatory carving courses. But it was always clear: together we can do it!

And then came Corona!...
With the first lockdown, the courses were cancelled and you can't just learn carving via online meetings. The training period was extended with each lockdown, while the fixed costs continued and my wife's income was lower due to short-time working. Our financial cushion was shrinking faster than expected and we had to find a solution!

And so, out of necessity, my dream of self-employment came true sooner than I thought. In March 2021, I founded "HM-Artesilva" and registered my business in the arts and crafts sector.

"Each piece is unique because the grain of the wood is like a fingerprint."

~ Michael Hagenauer.

Carved from special wood

I studied the many different properties of some of the 65 (!) types of wood native to Austria and quickly realised that this material offers almost inexhaustible possibilities and, above all, an extraordinary degree of individuality. No two pieces of wood are the same, each requires a different approach and so over time many different works of art and favourite pieces have been created, from life-size nativity figures to delicate ornamental earrings.

The beauty is that each piece is unique, because the grain of the wood is like a fingerprint and manual work is never as precise as a machine. Even if the shape and surface are similar, no two pieces are exactly the same - just like in nature.

Masks for Perchten

I now prefer to carve masks for the Perchten from Swiss stone pine. It is light, hardly fibres and, unlike spruce or fir, has a very even hardness. I prefer lime for detailed reliefs because it has hardly any grain and produces a very homogeneous image. Walnut, birch or even cherry are very interesting due to their different grains and colours, which can also be brought out wonderfully using natural-based oils - perfect for decorative items.

It is very important to me that the wood I use comes from the region wherever possible. For many pieces, I even know where the tree whose wood they are made of once stood.

Albert Einstein once said: "Creativity is intelligence that has fun". In the meantime, I have also trained as a master sculptor and enjoy working with stone and metal. I'm happy every day when I go into my little workshop and create something special from a shapeless block of wood.

pin_dropARTESILVA
Michael Hagenauer
Wengergasse 21
5203 Köstendorf
 info(at)hm-artesilva.at
www.hm-artesilva.at/