3Bit Amstrad

The sculptor Ekkehard Altenburger grew up on a farm at the Swiss-German border, and was based in London for two decades until he moved to Hong Kong in 2016.

He studied sculpture, first at Bremen's Hochschule fuer Kuenste and later at Edinburgh College of art. He finished his studies in 1999 with an MA from Chelsea College of art in London. Prior to his academic studies, he worked as master mason at the Gothic Cathedral of Schwabisch Gmuend in South Germany.

His work explores the physical balance of the built environment using architectural references as well as sculptural volumes of physical material.
Meeting and filming architect Oscar Niemeyer in 2001, then 94 yeas old, in his Office at the Copacabana left a lasting influence.

In his often large-scale productions, Altenburger has developed close working relationships with the industry by using and adapting advanced digital production methods in his work. His current research investigates methods of digital production and aspects of artistic control and authenticity when these methods are used.

Altenburger often uses texture and colour to manipulate surfaces. More recently he has developed wall-based works in painted aluminium, which appear as assembled reliefs.

Many of his works are in the public domain, where he has developed site-specific works for both private and public clients.

Public works include Sophrosyne for the Harlow Arts Trust, House for a Gordian Knot for the University of Nottingham and Sophrosyne II for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Guatemala.

Private commissions include Thoughts in a Banked Curve, a large-scale sculpture in Norwegian granite for the new Volkswagen Financial Headquarters in Milton Keynes and Negative Falls with Thames Stone for the Berkeley Group, which is part of the Chelsea Harbour development in London.

Altenburger serves as Assistant Professor for Sculpture at the Academy of Visual Arts at HKBU, Hong Kong since early 2017.