Štefan Papčo: Psycho-vertical

Štefan Papčo’s sculptural work is intimately connected to mountaineering, which he has been practicing for many years. The geological formations and the environment of these mountains constitute his workspace, while gravity, mass, or dew point can be considered his material. Papčo engages in an (impossible) translation of his climbing experience, introducing the vocabulary of mountaineering – such as corners, interstices, gaps or chimneys – into sculpture. Between an extreme physical performance and extreme mental discipline, the plural status of climbing is often based on a pre-written, choreographed movement. Written directly onto the rock’s surface, the climbing scores created by the climbers themselves are a key source of inspiration for the artist.