Insights into the interior of self-found gemstones: Images from the structures of agate, jasper & rock crystal
Exhibitions
2020 Mainzer Kunst Galerie, Mainz
2020 Verbandsgemeinde Rhein-Selz, Oppenheim
2021 Goldschmiede Stellwagen, Idar-Oberstein
2021 Weinwirtschaft Sommergrün, Nahbollenbach
2022 Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum, Idar-Oberstein
2022 Mineralienwelt, Idar-Oberstein
2022 Hyatt Regency, Mainz
2023 Source For Alpha, Frankfurt
2024 Stadthaus, Idar-Oberstein
2025 The Pier, Mainz -- 24. Januar bis 10. Mai
Television report
In 2022, SWR broadcast a short report on Lithoviso stone art in the program “Landesart” and in the program “Natürlich”.
Exhibition
Einen Eindruck der Ausstellung in den Räumen des Deutschen Edelsteinmuseums zeigt dieser kurze Video-Rundgang.
Miracles of creation from the darkness of the earth:
Agat, Jasper & Crystal - Hunsrück's gemstone treasures
Dear visitor, welcome
to this stone art page.
My name is Sebastian Stoll and I come from Mainz. My great passion is gemstones, minerals and fossils.
I have been going stone hunting with my father since I was a child. I have always been particularly fascinated by the colors and structures of the gemstones we found in Hunsrück and
Rheinhessen: agate, jasper and rock crystal.
They manifest the creative elemental forces and the physical laws of the cosmos that created them 280 million years ago in volcanic rock.
Over many years, I have experimented with the inner structures of the gemstones I have found in order to make their essence, their soul, visible and capture it in pictures.
I call these unique artistic “stone glimpses” Lithoviso.
Here I explain what I do and why the mysterious microcosms in the stones fascinate me so much and never let go.
Über viele Jahre habe ich experimentiert, um über die inneren Strukturen der gefundenen Edelsteine ihr Wesen, ihre Seele, sichtbar zu machen und in Bildern
festzuhalten.
Where precious stones grow
Around 280 million years ago, in the Permian period, there was great volcanic activity in what is now the Hunsrück region and parts of Rheinhessen. Incredible amounts of lava poured out of the
earth and dramatically changed the landscape at that time.
The gas bubbles in the bubbling lava formed cavities as the rock cooled. Over time, these filled with hot water in which silica, minerals and nanobacteria - the seeds of life - were dissolved.
From their interaction, colorful agate, jasper and rock crystal were formed in the absolute darkness of the earth over many thousands of years.
Fascinating questions
The cavities in the volcanic rock thus became the birthplace of gemstones. But how exactly did the formation process take place? While the formation of the different colors has been largely
researched, science is still struggling to explain how the unique structures and shapes of these stones are formed.
Primal forces in action
For me, these stones are miracles of creation. They originate at the boundary between animate and inanimate matter. Although they are not naturally alive and have no metabolism, they grow and
form their own filigree structures, shapes and colors. With a magnifying glass, true microcosms can be seen in some stones. I have always been fascinated by the elemental physical forces that
created them. These gemstones have something magical for me.
A journey through time and a treasure hunt
For me, stone hunting in Hunsrück and Rheinhessen is a decelerating, sensual excursion into the landscape. At the same time, it is a journey back in time to geological eras long past.
The knowledge of the geological past combined with the knowledge of today's landscape is like a key. I can use it to track down the places where the treasures of the Hunsrück and Rheinhessen are
hidden. Of course, a little intuition and luck are also required.
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Reading the stones
At the end of my excursions, I wash and sift the finds. Next, I select the pieces whose colors and structures seem suitable for my artwork.
However, this suitability can rarely be seen at first glance. A good magnifying glass and patience help me. I try to get a feel for the stone and “read” it in order to understand its properties
and characteristics.
In the next step, a professional gemstone cutter cuts, grinds and polishes the selected pieces for me.
Universal laws of creation come to light
Once the pieces are finished, it's time to pull out the magnifying glass again. Now I delve into the inner worlds of the stones. This is an exciting journey of discovery full of surprises. I
digitally record the pieces with the most interesting structures in order to document them down to their finest details.
The microcosms that come to light in the process provide impressive insights into the universal laws and forces of creation that were at work in the formation of the stones. They show what -
loosely based on Goethe's “Faust” - holds our world together at its core.
Lithoviso - from rock to art
Once the stones have been digitized, the actual artistic work follows: I carefully transform and intensify the colors, structures and shapes of my found objects on the computer. I also
achieve new, impressive effects through cut-outs and reflections.
This is a meditative process that usually takes days and weeks.
In the process, I encounter figures, forms and symbols that I capture and display in my works. They are reminiscent of the art of archaic and ancient cultures and the mythology of the collective
unconscious.
Each image is unique, based on the inner world of the gemstone in question.
A reference to the art historical classification of my stone art can be found here.
Stone insights - The soul of stones
I cordially invite everyone to take time to look at my pictures and go on a journey of discovery. This is the best way to track down the magical symbols, structures and figures in these -
previously hidden - worlds of wonder.
The pictures in the Lithoviso Gallery give an insight into my endeavor to make the soul of the stones visible and to encourage mindfulness in dealing with our creation. I welcome your
comments!
Many of my works only develop their full expressive power in a larger format. Then the fine details and the symbols, shapes and figures that fascinate me become fully visible. If you like, you
are welcome to contact me to get an impression of the pictures in real life.
I print my work in limited and hand-signed editions on canvas, fine art photo paper and behind acrylic glass. The formats are
flexible and I can reproduce the motifs from small up to a size of two meters. The pictures and other art objects with the motifs of the stones are available in my store. There you will find
I hope you enjoy delving into the mysterious inner worlds of gemstones as much as I do, kind regards,
Many more pictures are in the Gallery I wish happy perousing!
Please click on the pictures to enlarge.
Gästebuch - Ich freue mich über Kommentare!
Uta (Donnerstag, 13 Mai 2021 10:29)
Vielen Dank, lieber Sebastian, dass Du mich auf Deine Bilder aufmerksam gemacht hast. Die Farben und Muster ziehen mich sofort in ihren Bann. Ich bin ganz fasziniert, was die Natur hervorbringt.
Sebastian Stoll (Donnerstag, 08 Oktober 2020)
LIebe Frau Kappis, herzlichen Dank, ich freue mich sehr, dass Ihnen meine Werke gefallen!
Sie finden mich in Oktober und November bei Messen in Darmstadt und Frankfurt sowie der Ausstellung der Goldschmiede Stellwagen in Idar-Oberstein. Auch Ausstellungen sind wieder geplant. Unter dem Reiter "Ausstellungen" am Anfang der Seite finden Sie die aktuellen Termine. Viele Grüße, Sebastian Stoll
Marianne Kappis (Dienstag, 06 Oktober 2020 14:55)
Hallo guten Tag, ich habe Ihre tollen Werke in Bad Münster am Stein letztens gesehen und war begeistert von Ihrer Arbeit! Ich muss mich mal schlau machen, wo Sie demnächst noch einmal zu sehen sind. Viel Spaß und viel Erfolg weiterhin wünsche Ich Ihnen von Herzen....Liebe Grüße Marianne Kappis aus Rüdesheim/KH
Dagmar Hipp (Sonntag, 16 Juni 2019 08:26)
Ganz phantastisch!
Susanne (Dienstag, 28 Mai 2019 16:08)
Hi Sebastian, eine schöne Website mit ganz tollen Bildern!
Super gemacht!!!
LG
Elisabeth Stein (Dienstag, 28 Mai 2019 15:47)
Einfach faszinierend, spannend. Bin total begeistert.