Group of five Matchstickmen (2019), wood, polyurethane, paint, each 155 centimeters.
Nondescript Human Heads Appear Burned into Large-Scale Matches by Wolfgang Stiller
Often propped up in a row or symbolically arranged, the ongoing series of charred matches by Wolfgang Stiller are oversized and surreal renditions of the book-bound lookalikes. The German artist sculpts human heads in bright red or gradient-lined black signaling previous use that sit atop the square posts standing about five feet tall. Aptly titled Matchstickmen, the nondescript figures span the gamut of human emotion, ranging from pained expressions and distress to joy and calm.
Bronze installation of Matchstickmen at the Changwon Sculpture Biennale Korea (2018)
Group of three Matchstickmen (2019), wood, polyurethane, paint, each 155 centimeters
Detail of “Matchbox” (2018), wood, polyurethane, and paint, 160 x 71 x 20 centimeters when opened
