Biography

Balkenhol was born in Fritzlar, West Germany. His work lies in the long tradition of woodcarving in Germany - from the Gothic period to the Expressionist sculpture of artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Ernst Barlach. Balkenhol takes the human figure as his subject, although the abnormally normal, non-heroic types he portrays represent the polar opposite of expressionist angst. The rough surfaces of his sculptures, with chisel and axe marks clearly visible, mean that the viewer cannot forget that the figures are pieces of wood and emphasise that his works are sculptures as much as representations.