"Die Hölle ist leer..." Sculpture

Stefan Korinek Born in Austria, in the Weinviertel region, he lives and works in Gars am Kamp (Waldviertel). Stefan Korinek’s artistic practice operates within the dynamic interplay of material transformation, temporality, and light. The point of departure for his works is copper — a metal understood not as a mere carrier, but as an autonomous acting entity. Korinek deliberately refrains from using traditional paints. Instead, he initiates chemical reaction processes that allow the material itself to generate color. Oxidation becomes a formative principle, patina a painterly event. In this context, the artist does not perceive himself as the controller of the material, but rather as the catalyst of an open-ended process. The resulting surfaces are characterized by unpredictability, density, and organic structure. In a second, consciously applied intervention, the copper plates are manually perforated using hammer and burin. These penetrations create space for integrated light sources, allowing the works to radiate from within. Materiality and immateriality, heaviness and light, control and chance enter into a dialogical state. Korinek’s works address transience not as loss, but as continuous transformation. Conceptually, his practice is informed by the idea of “Tikun Ha Olam” — the concept of repairing or healing the world. In this sense, his art can be understood as a poetic contribution to awareness, responsibility, and change. His works have been presented in exhibitions in Vienna, Hamburg, Zurich, Paris, and Ljubljana, as well as at international art fairs.