Michael Hammers
Encyclopedia
Michael Hammers is a German artist
and designer
.
Hammers’ greatest interest is applied art in architecture.
After establishing his own workshop in 1994, Michael Hammers began to artistically pursue the fundamental ideas of the Bauhaus
school; breaking down the existing hierarchical structures between various types of formal instruction. Today there are artisans, architects, designers and engineers all working together under the same roof in Michael Hammers Studios.
First and foremost, it is Michael Hammers himself who develops the basic artistic and technical concepts. His materials are metal, stone, wood, glass, light and color.
Starting in 2005, Hammers increasingly turned towards working with audiovisuals. His avandt-garde film From the Infinity of the Cosmos, a homage
to Maria Callas
, premiered at the Metropolitan Opera
in New York in 2007.
In 1984 Hammers passed his school leaving exams at the Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium in Aachen, Germany before starting his apprenticeship as a blacksmith. He passed the trade test as a wrought-iron craftsman with honors in 1987. In 1989 he joined the studio and workshop of the sculptor Paul Nagel in Wesseling, Germany.
In 1992 he passed his examination for the master's certificate as a wrought-iron craftsman and a metal designer. 1994 saw the foundation of the workshop Nagel-Hammers and in 1997 Hammers began with classical vocal training. 2005 was the start of his work as a freelance artist and designer, and the introduction of Michael Hammers' Artmanship . Most recently in 2007 the Michael Hammers Studios GmbH was established.
In 2008 Michael Hammers was appointed as a cultural ambassador to the Senate of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade of Germany (BWA).
In 2010 the plenum of the Guild of Metalworkers Rhine-Erft, Germany appoints unanimously Michael Hammers honorary member.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
.
Life
Upon passing his school leaving exams, Michael Hammers began his professional career as a blacksmith. He apprenticed in several workshops and studios before becoming the assistant of sculptor Paul Nagel.Hammers’ greatest interest is applied art in architecture.
After establishing his own workshop in 1994, Michael Hammers began to artistically pursue the fundamental ideas of the Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
school; breaking down the existing hierarchical structures between various types of formal instruction. Today there are artisans, architects, designers and engineers all working together under the same roof in Michael Hammers Studios.
First and foremost, it is Michael Hammers himself who develops the basic artistic and technical concepts. His materials are metal, stone, wood, glass, light and color.
Starting in 2005, Hammers increasingly turned towards working with audiovisuals. His avandt-garde film From the Infinity of the Cosmos, a homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
, premiered at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York in 2007.
In 1984 Hammers passed his school leaving exams at the Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium in Aachen, Germany before starting his apprenticeship as a blacksmith. He passed the trade test as a wrought-iron craftsman with honors in 1987. In 1989 he joined the studio and workshop of the sculptor Paul Nagel in Wesseling, Germany.
In 1992 he passed his examination for the master's certificate as a wrought-iron craftsman and a metal designer. 1994 saw the foundation of the workshop Nagel-Hammers and in 1997 Hammers began with classical vocal training. 2005 was the start of his work as a freelance artist and designer, and the introduction of Michael Hammers' Artmanship . Most recently in 2007 the Michael Hammers Studios GmbH was established.
In 2008 Michael Hammers was appointed as a cultural ambassador to the Senate of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade of Germany (BWA).
In 2010 the plenum of the Guild of Metalworkers Rhine-Erft, Germany appoints unanimously Michael Hammers honorary member.
Works
- 1996 "Gitterwerk", lattice work at the south entrance of the Cologne CathedralCologne CathedralCologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site...
, designed by Paul Nagel, Cologne - 1996 "Golgotha Kreuz", Golgotha Crucifix, designed by Paul Nagel, Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem
- 2000 "The Millennium Cross of Light", designed by Stefano Ricci, Rome
- 2001 "The World’s Largest Crystal Octahedron", Gemological Institute of AmericaGemological Institute of AmericaThe Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, is a nonprofit institute dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology and the jewelry arts. Founded in 1931, GIA's mission is to protect all buyers and sellers of gemstones by setting and maintaining the standards used to evaluate...
(GIA), San Diego - 2002 "Northern Lights", SwarovskiSwarovskiSwarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
Crystal Worlds, Wattens, Austria - 2004 "The SwarovskiSwarovskiSwarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
Star", Rockefeller CenterRockefeller CenterRockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
Christmas Tree, New York - 2005 "Voyage", designed by Yves BéharYves BeharYves Béhar is a designer, entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate. He is the founder of fuseproject, the San Francisco and New York based design and branding firm he established in 1999...
, SwarovskiSwarovskiSwarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
Crystal Palace, Milan, Italy - 2005 "Joie", Crystal Waterfall, Top of The Rock, Rockefeller CenterRockefeller CenterRockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
, New York - 2005 "Radiance", Crystal Geode, Top of The Rock, Rockefeller CenterRockefeller CenterRockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
, New York - 2006 "Goldene Wand", Golden Wall at Festival Hall, Salzburg, Austria
- 2006 "SwarovskiSwarovskiSwarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
Gallery", Rockefeller CenterRockefeller CenterRockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
, New York - 2007 "Infinity of the Cosmos", avant-garde film on the life of Maria CallasMaria CallasMaria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
, Metropolitan OperaMetropolitan OperaThe Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
House, New York - 2008 "Electric Fountain", designed by Tim Noble and Sue Webster, Rockefeller CenterRockefeller CenterRockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
, New York - 2009 "Crystal Wall Beijing", World Financial Center, BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... - 2009 "Rockefeller CenterRockefeller CenterRockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
Christmas Tree", "The SwarovskiSwarovskiSwarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
Star", lighting production, New York - 2010 "City Museum Bruck ", exhibition concept and design, Bruck an der Mur, Austria