At his Kreuzberg atelier yesterday, sculptor Mateo Klein offered collectors and institutional directors an exclusive preview of his largest body of work to date: *The Volcanic Liturgy*, a suite of 14 monumental sculptures marrying hand-chiseled volcanic basalt with cast patinated bronze.
Weighing up to 2.4 tons each, the works investigate the tension between geologic permanence and ephemeral political orders. Several pieces integrate internal water conduits that maintain a perpetual surface sheen, echoing ritual cleansing rites of ancient Mediterranean sanctuaries.
Four of the works have already been pre-allocated to major private foundations in Frankfurt, Warsaw, and Geneva, with primary market valuations ranging from €180,000 to €450,000. Klein's upcoming presentation in Venice is widely anticipated to be one of the critical focal points of the Biennale's Giardini program.
"Working with stone at this scale forces an absolute reckoning with time," Klein observed during the salon. "You cannot rush volcanic basalt. Every stroke demands total presence, total conviction.