The Loth Sculpture Prize, sponsored by L-Bank, highlights a special individual position in the field of sculpture, including the gallery that makes it visible. This year, the prize also connects back to Wilhelm Loth, one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century, as Robert Schad studied under him at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe between 1974 and 1980. The line is the most important element of Robert Schad’s artworks, which he once described as “ciphers of his own physical condition.” Accordingly, his drawings do not serve as preparation for a sculpture but are independent artworks that interact with space, just like his delicate steel works, which are nevertheless spatial lines and create an energetically charged space. The fragile structures made of rusted Corten steel possess a great haptic quality. They defy gravity in space and challenge the laws of nature. They contain a dance-like element that constitutes the effect of the artworks. Despite the heaviness of the material, their vertical or horizontal extension makes them appear light, almost weightless.
Excerpt from the press release on art-karlsruhe.de
