From the series Rhizome Sculpture

Albert Hettinger is a German artist who mainly works with stone, especially with basalt and granite. His studio is situated on the former US Airbase Bitburg, close to a volcanic region. ........................................"Regardless of the material or the techniques he employs, the sculptures of Albert Hettinger radiate an unmistakable grace and meditative, Zen-like stillness. The artist’s experiences in Japan plainly enriched his form-language, but its underlying aesthetic was present from the very start of his career. Whether he works in basalt, granite or steel, the sense of balance and harmony is constant, expressed in ground-hugging forms, in richly modulated reliefs, in steles that seem to bridge earth and sky, or in installations that display an airy lightness. In his most characteristic sculptures, Hettinger seems to peel away superfluous layers to reveal the unexpected beauty concealed within. Often he leaves sections of the finished piece in a raw state, revealing even the boreholes through which an ancient material was wrested from the quarry. This primordial quality is both emphasized and complemented by the elegant, mirror-like surfaces that adjoin. Hettinger’s exquisitely crafted works comprise an oeuvre of great authority and of a beauty at once touching and timeless." David Galloway, Art Critics / Curator 2016 .............................................................................."The discovery of Albert Hettinger’s sculptures has been a fantastic experience for our Poppy & Pierre Salinger Foundation. It is an exceptional work in a very special natural material: basalt, which demands skill and imagination. Both qualities are present in Hettinger's world. We were fascinated by these lines; like an original piece of nature suddenly coming to life, nature's birth written by the poetry and the hammer of Albert. One can feel the perfection, look at it, receive it into his or her soul... and the trip begins." Poppy Salinger, Poppy and Pierre Salinger Foundation 2016