Veit Korn

Veit Korn’s “Skull Hybris III” is a powerful reflection on human nature and its inevitable limitations. Crafted from travertine (freshwater limestone) and measuring approximately 40 x 20 x 15 cm, the sculpture combines the form of a skull with a geometric frame—symbolizing the finite nature of human existence. The title “Hybris”, drawn from ancient Greek culture, refers to excessive pride or overreach, often depicted in myths and tragedies as the root of a hero’s downfall. Korn uses this concept to explore the tension between human ambition and the inevitability of mortality.

Viewed through an existentialist lens, the sculpture takes on profound philosophical significance. The skull, a universal symbol of death, confronts the viewer with the reality of mortality. The rigid rectangular frame enclosing the figure becomes a metaphor for the boundaries of human freedom—a physical manifestation of the existential condition of being “thrown” into existence, trapped between birth and death, freedom and limitation.

The piece invites reflection on key existentialist themes:

• Isolation and loneliness: The figure appears confined, alone, detached from any context—an image of the human being in existential solitude.
• Anxiety and nothingness: The hollow eye sockets and haunting stillness of the face evoke a sense of existential dread—the anxiety not of something, but of nothing, as described by Sartre and Heidegger.
• Freedom and responsibility: Despite being enclosed, the skull appears alert—almost conscious, perhaps even grinning ironically. This suggests the burden of radical freedom: the idea that humans must define themselves through choices, even in the face of death.
• Hybris and the search for meaning: The title draws attention to the tragic aspect of human pride—the attempt to transcend our limits, which inevitably ends in failure. This recalls Camus’ notion of the absurd hero, who struggles to find meaning despite the futility of existence.

The sculpture’s carefully worked surface—chiseled, hammered, polished, and oiled—lends it a raw, timeless quality. It resembles a relic of a long-lost civilization, a silent witness to humanity’s eternal struggle between greatness and fragility. Accompanied by a signed certificate, “Skull Hybris III” becomes more than just a work of art: it is a philosophical invitation to reflect on the boundaries of human existence and the delicate balance between ambition and mortality.