“100 objects – 100 stories”
The ceramic artist and co-founder of the Cselley mill Robert Schneider was known for large clay balls with a crack going through them. In the anniversary exhibition at Schlaining Castle, the ball with the welded crack represents the life and work of Robert Schneider.
Shaping large hollow balls of clay is a masterpiece of craftsmanship – a crack actually means a ceramist has failed, said Wolfgang Horvath in his studio in Buchschachen. Wolfgang Horvath owns a clay ball by Robert Schneider. Horvath organized the EU Art Network with Schneider for many years. They were companions for years.
Crack represents life
The crack in the clay ball stands for life in general and also for the life of Robert Schneider, Horvath mused. “The crack was life for Nobert. Cracks, fractures – that’s what life is made of. In contrast, he also welded these cracks again.”
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“100 Objects – 100 Stories”, September 6, 2022, ORF 2 Burgenland
Wolfgang Horvath organized the EU Art Network there with Robert Schneider and Sepp Laubner for more than 20 years. For Wolfgang Horvath, Robert Schneider, who made all sorts of ceramics himself from the ceiling to the floor in his Cselley mill, was also a brilliant craftsman. According to Horvath, he did great things.
During his lifetime, Schneider – he was also a musician – made his clay balls sound. The clay percussion fell silent in 2019 with the death of Robert Schneider. Perhaps the cracked ball in the anniversary exhibition in Schlaining will make you think.