André E. Bucher
Born in 1924.
Died in 2009.
André E. Bucher (1924–2009) is the artist identified in the sources examined; the biographical records state his name and dates of life. The documented singularity of his practice lies in his incorporation of lava or magma into certain works from 1976 onwards, as well as in the fact that he climbed volcanoes in order to work on these pieces in situ.
The structured SIKART entry refers to the identifier person-4002201 and records the years 1924–2009 for his life.
Professionally, the sources indicate that from 1967 onwards he worked exclusively as a sculptor. According to the biographical entry consulted, his works were presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions. A monograph entitled André Bucher, Bildhauer – Feuer und Lava (ABC‑Verlag, Zurich 1984) is mentioned in the available references.
As an example of public conservation and management, the sculpture known as “Ruhebank” was removed in 2008 for construction work and placed in storage by the City of Karlsruhe, which owned it. The use of lava as a material and the recourse to working on site—the ascent of volcanoes in order to complete the pieces—position his approach at the intersection of material experimentation and a documented in-situ practice.
On the basis of the material assembled here, one may identify a trajectory in which sculpture becomes a site of technical experimentation—the use of lava—and of production in exceptional contexts, accompanied by dissemination through publications and exhibitions.
