Richard Bertman

de Christina Lanzl, Gina Tsarouhas

For over 50 years Richard Bertman has been sculpting, drawing, and leading an architectural practice. Gradually assembling a lifetime's work, Bertman's sculptural creations encompass over 100 works from five decades. The sculptures bear testimony to a boundless energy and the creativity of a Renaissance man, both an artist and a renowned architect. This book delves into process, meaning and interpretation of Bertman's sculptures, shedding light on his creative practice and analysing each work, while also listening to the artist's voice. He is best known for his whimsical mechanical sculptures. Man, and machine are Bertman's central foci, resulting in two major groupings: kinetic objects primarily activated by electric motors and figurative portraits made from bent wire, welded steel rod, or carved in wood. Complementing these are the early abstract sculptures as well as explorations in other materials, such as copper, bronze or the incorporation of appropriated items from found objects.