Klaus Titze
| 1952 | Born in Wilhelmsthal, former East Germany |
|---|---|
| 1984-1986 | Trained as a basketmaker |
| Since 1986 | Has been working freelance in his own ateliers, first in Grafenbrück, then Ackermannshof (both in eastern Germany), and now in Møn, Denmark |
Klaus Titze’s wickerwork objects can be regarded as fossils of a gradually vanishing crafting culture. To create them he first weaves pliable willow branches into the desired shape and then applies several layers of fiber concrete. Afterwards he fires the objects, which causes the willow mesh to burn almost completely. The unusual baskets thus created have been deprived of their age-old function, presenting themselves instead as breathtaking, independent works of art. For this artist, the crafting process is as important as the finished product. He particularly likes the combination of opposites: the supple, elastic willow and the hard, solidified concrete. In addition, he feels very attached to the tradition of this ancient trade and is intrigued by this special crafting technique. In the future, Klaus Titze wants to use this technique to craft structural elements such as walls, pillars or room partitions. In 2005 he was awarded the Bavarian State Prize, and in 2007 won the “Best One-of-a-Kind Object” award at the Arts and Crafts Fair in Copenhagen. Also, some of his creations were acquired by the Danish Arts Foundation.
