Sculpture

Sculptures in granite

In 1996 Erik felt like working in a harder material and made an agreement with the sculptor Kim Gimmer Hansen for a week of personal introduction to carving granite. He learned to use the point chisel and flat chisel – and then simply got started. After a month of work he created his first granite sculpture: Ramses the First. Only then was he allowed to use power tools.

Material: Blå Rønne, grey granite, diabas
All works are unique – one exemplar only
All sculptures are signed

The working process

From model to stone: A clay sculpture is chosen as the model and transferred to the square granite block by sketching the essential lines directly on the stone.
Rough carving: Where a lot of material must be removed, grooves are cut into the granite (1–2 cm thick) and then split off. This method releases volume quickly and in a controlled way.
Shaping: Point chisels in different widths refine surfaces, edges and transitions – often resulting in a living, tactile, point-chiselled texture.
Grinding & polishing: First carborundum grit 60, then grit 80 for a matte, dusty surface. If the surface is to be glossy, it is hand-polished further with diamond pads.

Erik Lemcke carving a granite sculpture with hammer and chisel — Erik in his workshop

The works

The granite sculpture Pluto in black Blå Rønne granite — Pluto
Blå Rønne, polished · H44x31x22

The granite sculpture Father and son — Father and son
Blå Rønne, point-chiselled and polished · H53x31x28

The granite sculpture Interest — Interest
Grey granite, point-chiselled and polished · H44x22x18 · 1998

The granite sculpture Black fire in diabas — Black fire
Diabas, polished

The granite sculpture Ramses the Second — Ramses the Second
Blå Rønne, point-chiselled and polished · 49x36x26 · 1997

The granite sculpture Sprout on grass — Sprout
Grey granite, point-chiselled · 2015

The granite sculpture Fish — Fish
Grey granite, point-chiselled