Manuel Ursprung on Plaster of Paris, Mongolia Series, and Moving from Britain to Cologne
In an interview with Singulart Magazine, German artist Manuel Ursprung elaborates on his artistic journey. He identifies Utopia (2023) as the piece that most accurately reflects his current work, while Under the Skin hints at future explorations. Ursprung's artistic endeavors began in 2012 during his economics studies, evolving from painting to sculpture. His Mongolia series was inspired by a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway, where he recreated expansive landscapes from memory. He primarily uses Plaster of Paris for its versatility, crafting delicate sculptures housed in Perspex boxes. Currently, he is experimenting with latex to push the boundaries of fragility and incorporates common materials like salty dough and wood. His recent move to Cologne has influenced his use of subdued colors in his monochromatic reliefs. Notable works include MMXX, MONGOLIA, and OMIT.
Key facts
- Manuel Ursprung began exploring art in 2012 while studying economics, starting with painting and later moving into sculpture.
- Utopia (2023), which imagines a city of organic, interconnected forms inspired by nature, is the work he says best represents his practice today.
- The Mongolia series grew out of a Trans-Siberian Railway trip with seven or eight days on the train and over a week travelling across Mongolia from the capital.
- Ursprung recreates vast, almost uninhabited landscapes from memory rather than reproducing what he saw, hand-carving intricate forms before casting them.
- Plaster of Paris was first chosen for the Mongolia piece for its flexibility and adaptability and remains central to his practice.
- His plaster works appear solid yet are extremely fragile, protected in Perspex boxes and changing with the light throughout the day.
- He is now exploring latex as a way to challenge the fragility of his sculptures and potentially invite touch.
- Living in Britain led him to introduce subtle colour into largely monochromatic work; he has recently moved to Cologne.
Entities
Artists
- Manuel Ursprung
Institutions
- Singulart
- Singulart Magazine
Locations
- Germany
- Britain
- United Kingdom
- Cologne
- Mongolia
- Trans-Siberian Railway