Angelos Patsiatzis is one of the first Greek wood craftsmen to create masterful forest sculptures with a chainsaw. He also teaches this rare art to students.
His work can be seen and admired in forests and mountains in Central Greece, in majestic natural environs such as the Asclepius Path and the Mushroom Path. For many, the finest exemplar of his sculptures is the wooden statue of the revered Saint Paisios on the Meteora Path.
Patsiatzis started working with wood professionally in 2000. He now teaches wood sculpture in a University of Thessaly pilot program. He also teaches wood sculpture at the Florina Art School and wood technology in a Karditsa school.
“I learned working on wood from my father who was a carpenter,” the sculptor told Greek Reporter recently. “This is where I learned all about the wood sculpting tools and what a wood sculptor does. Then I went to wood sculpture school, got my degree and started working at ecclesiastical workshops.”
“However, what really interested me was urban art,” Patsiatzis continued, “making interior design for homes, household woodworks for decoration, souvenirs, mirrors and so on. What we do really well is forest sculpture, wood sculpture in the forest, in nature, using chainsaws to make works of art.”
Forest sculpture starts to grow in Greece
Forest sculpture is nothing new. It flourishes in the Scandinavian countries and northern Europe, where forests are plentiful and people have a close relationship with Nature.
“The purpose of making sculptures in a forest using trees is to bring people here, in nature, to walk to take pictures,” Patsiatzis explained. “It is something that’s going on in Europe for years now. It started in Norway in the 1950s and I believe it’s something interesting.”
This art form is now blooming in Greece, as exemplified by talented sculptors like Patsiatzis and other like-minded artists.
“Forest sculpture can be seen in the sculpture of (Saint) Paisios we made in the Meteora Path; in the Mushroom Path where we made several sculptures of mushrooms; in the Asclepius Path where we made other sculptures,” the artist said. “We get a positive response from people who visit the paths; they seem to love it and embrace the concept.”
What it boils down to is harmony with Nature. This is art made from wood that grows in the earth, and is created in a natural habitat.
“Forest culture is in harmony with Nature. Wood is coming from Nature and instead of using it for the fireplace, we make wood creations from it, we give it life. A wood creation out of a tree can live another fifty or a hundred years,” said the wood sculptor.
Patsiatzis wants to take this project further: “For our plans, we have established a local community cooperative in collaboration with the municipality to open a workshop where students can come and learn the art of wood sculpture or do an internship.”
The artist is determined to work on the continuation of forest sculpture and general work with wood. “We want to start a team and organize forest wood sculpture festivals, make sculptures and donate them to various organizations. Above all, we want young people to learn the art of forest sculpture.”
