Christine Habermann von Hoch

Christine Habermann von Hoch (born September 3, 1980 in Dačice) is a German and Czech sculptor and metal designer. 
==Early life and background==
Christine is the youngest daughter of Alfred Habermann (1930-2008), an artist blacksmith and sculptor, and Marie Hoch (born 1945), the daughter of veterinarian and philanthropist František Hoch (1898-1962). In 1985, her family emigrated from communist Czechoslovakia to Germany, where she was raised in an environment deeply rooted in the art of blacksmithing. Her formative experiences in various countries, such as Israel where her father worked in a Kibbutz, as well as Italy, the USA, and Japan, influenced her artistic development. Guided by her father's tutelage, Christine mastered traditional blacksmithing techniques such as forging, repousse, and drawing.
==Education==
Post her high school graduation, she attended a sculpture and carving school in South Tyrol - Alto Adige, Italy, following her father's advice to initially focus on mastering craftsmanship before pursuing formal artistic education. Subsequently, from 2001 to 2007, she engaged in an extensive period of study encompassing fine arts, German philology, and literature at Palacký University Olomouc. During this time, she held extended scholarships at the University of Florence, as well as at the Technical University of Dresden and the University of Vienna. During her academic tenure, Christine also imparted blacksmithing techniques at various locations, including Helfštýn Castle and the Conference of the Artist Blacksmith Association (ABANA) in the USA where her father was honorary member.
Within her university years, she pioneered a distinct technique of forged paintings and conceptual creations, exemplified by the "Steel - Fur - Gold - Silver" series. Following her postgraduate studies (M.A.) in 2007, she shared a profound and formative period with her ailing father in his Ybbsitz forging studio until his passing in 2008. To honor her father's legacy, Christine crafted a metal, glass, and stone tomb triptych for his burial in the local cemetery, with this experience propelling her deeper into sacred sculpture.
==Legacy and continued work==
With a mission to make her father's artistic contributions accessible to the public, Christine founded the Alfred Habermann Private Museum in Ybbsitz in 2008, showcasing models, photographs, and select sculptures. In subsequent years, these exhibits she loaned to Lipník nad Bečvou, and his archive Christine donated to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague (UMPRUM).
Since 2017, Christine has resided with her family in Příbor, where she dedicates herself to unrestrained artistic creations and design. She is married to Veronika Habermann and has two children, Stella and Felix Levi.
==Artistic style and expression==
Christine's primary medium of expression is steel - metal in general, a material she experiments with, continually innovating new artistic techniques such as metal-drawing. Her creative approach involves combining steel with diverse materials such as light, gold leaf, paint, fur, and glass.
Monumental nativity scene "Adoration of the Three Kings" at Neustift Monastery in Italy (2014)Christine Habermann von Hoch's portfolio features a diverse array of large-scale artistic creations, intertwined with detailed filigree pieces. . Among these is the "Adoration of the Three Kings", a monumental steel nativity tableau standing four meters tall in the Neustift Monastery near Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, dating back to 2014. This sculptural composition embodies a captivating minimalistic representation.
==Sculptures and installations in public space==
Christine Habermann von Hoch's sculptural installations in public spaces include a series of seating objects in the forecourt of the synagogue in Hranice from 2019. The installation titled "Nicocot – Fragments of Light" is inspired by Jewish symbolism and adorned with Hebrew script. The cut-out letters serve as both ornamental and thematic elements; due to the illumination inside the structures, selected Hebrew words (such as "peace", "respect", "love") act as fragments of light ("nicocot"), referencing Lurianic Kabbalah. The ensemble of six triangular seats forms the Star of David.
Another notable work is the "Student Sculpture" for the University of Silesia in Opava (2019), serving as a commemoration of the events of November 17, 1989. The sculpture consists of six steel plates forming the contour of a heart, collectively resembling a flower's shape.
==Selected works==
* "Adoration of the Three Kings," Monumental Nativity Scene (4m) – Neustift Abbey|Neustift near Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy
* Candlelit Portal, St. Lawrence Church Door – Nuremberg, Germany
* Butterfly Cross, Tombstone – Enns, Austria
* Lighting Design, Installation Concept, Railings, and Glass Doors – Příbor
* Otokar Fischer Award – Prague
* Ludvík Václavek Award for "Concentrated Knowledge" – Palacký University in Olomouc
* Sundial – Hollenstein an der Ybbs, Austria
* Lighting Fixtures at the Echo Cultural Center – Lipník nad Bečvou
Category:1980 births
Category:Blacksmiths
Category:Sculptors
Category:German people