Vignettes by Karl Unnasch

In his dreamlike vignettes, Karl Unnasch espouses the Beautiful with the Grotesque to create an ambience of surreal contemplation. Conflicting scales of physical reference assist to lend a bewitching vagary to the work.

Cadaverous fauna or reclaimed urban detritus such as salvaged objects comprise the physical and subjective foundation for these alluring compositions and serene miniature landscapes. Dead organic matter and scrap debris are often viewed as unpleasant or ugly; hence Karl challenges his audience to redefine their perceptions. Fantastic settings are pieced together upon these harsh realities of death and loss as a means of escape from horror, investigation of subject, and consideration of beauty.

Browse vignettes below...

(Some images courtesy of Gene Pittman 2001-2012)

Sexspell
Reclaimed spray can, desiccated fish, reclaimed gold tooth caps, pencil shavings, pigment

Lost and Found
Tomcat carcasses, scale model accessories and scenery, pigment

Auric Gauge
Reclaimed gauge housing, turtle carcass, reclaimed gold tooth cap, scale model scenery and accessories

"Unnasch puts a surreal spin on his work in true Dali-esque magic. In one notable piece, a bonsai tree sprouts from the vessel of a mossy crab with a teeny, tiny swing hanging from a branch. It works on levels of aesthetic artistry and pure beguilement."

— Art in London Magazine

Made in the U.S.A.
Snake carcass, scale model accessories and scenery, pigment

Cautionary Tale
Reclaimed safety cone, scale model parts, plastic putty, wood, wire, reclaimed resinated wax

Lil’ Iggy
Lizard carcass, reclaimed gold tooth cap, scale model scenery and accessories

Corpus Corvus Corollary
Segmented crow in cast iron, scale model scenery and accessories, pigment

"...Unnasch successfully combined disparate objects in pursuit of a unified, conceptual goal: the decomposing body of the seagull had returned to the earth, lending new life to the trees that flourish on top of it. The work was refreshingly clear..."

— Yale Daily News

"Look. Look again. Karl Unnasch's sculptures — whether as large as farm machinery or small as a cowpie — beg for closer viewing. His 'vignettes' merge a Zen-like, bonsai-inflected quality with an intractable whimsy…"

— Minneapolis CityPages

Email

karl@karlunnasch.com

Phone

+1 (507) 272 0452

Vignettes

by Karl Unnasch

"Unnasch puts a surreal spin on his work in true Dali-esque magic. In one notable piece, a bonsai tree sprouts from the vessel of a mossy crab with a teeny, tiny swing hanging from a branch. It works on levels of aesthetic artistry and pure beguilement." — Art in London Magazine

"Karl R. Unnasch's “Domestic Disturbances” … features a white kitchen stove with little treescapes inside pots, pans and salt and pepper shakers … (it was) amazingly simple, yet outstanding." — The New York Times

"...Unnasch successfully combined disparate objects in pursuit of a unified, conceptual goal: the decomposing body of the seagull had returned to the earth, lending new life to the trees that flourish on top of it. The work was refreshingly clear..." — Yale Daily News

"Look. Look again. Karl Unnasch's sculptures — whether as large as farm machinery or small as a cowpie — beg for closer viewing. His 'vignettes' merge a Zen-like, bonsai-inflected quality with an intractable whimsy…" — Minneapolis CityPages

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"Unnasch puts a surreal spin on his work in true Dali-esque magic. In one notable piece, a bonsai tree sprouts from the vessel of a mossy crab with a teeny, tiny swing hanging from a branch. It works on levels of aesthetic artistry and pure beguilement."

— Art in London Magazine

"Karl R. Unnasch's “Domestic Disturbances” … features a white kitchen stove with little treescapes inside pots, pans and salt and pepper shakers … (it was) amazingly simple, yet outstanding."

— The New York Times

"...Unnasch successfully combined disparate objects in pursuit of a unified, conceptual goal: the decomposing body of the seagull had returned to the earth, lending new life to the trees that flourish on top of it. The work was refreshingly clear..."

— Yale Daily News

"Look. Look again. Karl Unnasch's sculptures — whether as large as farm machinery or small as a cowpie — beg for closer viewing. His 'vignettes' merge a Zen-like, bonsai-inflected quality with an intractable whimsy…"

— Minneapolis CityPages