wood arc project by Raffaele Salvoldi

 

A photography director by training, Italian artist Raffaele Salvoldi followed a new path in 2021 when he began experimenting with architectural forms using wooden building blocks. In 2022, he expanded his newfound passion by establishing Wood Arc, a project dedicated to his towering and spellbinding installations, each one built with ‘thousands of planks, locked by gravity.’

 

Salvoldi specifically uses KAPLA planks to erect his structures; invented by a Dutchman in the 1980s, KAPLA is a wooden construction toy suitable for both children and adults. Each set features identical 1:3:15 pine-based blocks that can be stacked on top of one another to compose endless forms, patterns, and heights. The process requires no clips, no screws, and no glue.

 

To his delight, the multidisciplinary artist constructed an array of architectural styles — ranging from palatial designs with spiraling towers to modern archways and spherical, hanging pendants. More importantly, each new creation takes inspiration from its context, typically the setting of a historical building (palace), an abandoned house, or an exhibition space. 

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'
all images © Raffaele Salvoldi / Wood Arc 

 

 

a highly aesthetic and performative process 

 

‘Europe is rich in places of incredible beauty: palaces, exhibition spaces, and historical houses: some are famous and often used, others are less known but occasionally come back to life through specific events. Wood Arc project finds its home in these almost forgotten, enchanting spaces: it comes to life slowly, in two months or longer, through the creation of installation art that gradually rise in harmony with the rooms that host them,‘ he writes.

 

While the aesthetics of his installations captivate deeply, Raffaele Salvoldi’s work is also valued for its performative quality. Indeed, at the start of each new Wood Arc creation, visitors are invited to watch him stack the KAPLA planks. Later on, when the structure is ready to be taken down, participants can join the artist in breaking down the foundation through a domino-like strike or throwing blocks at the installation. It takes anywhere from three weeks to four months to complete one structure.

 

Discover more sculptural works by the artist on his Instagram page or by visiting the Wood Arc website. 

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'
using thousands of wooden planks to erect a structure

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'
Salvoldi founded the Wood Arc project in 2022

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'
using KAPLA planks, a Dutch-invented construction toy from the 1980s

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity' 

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'
creating an array of patterns by stacking the identical planks

 

raffaele salvoldi shapes towering installations using 'thousands of planks, locked by gravity'

 

 

 

1/12
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 

project info:

 

name: Wood Arc 

artist: Raffaele Salvoldi | @_wood.arc