Growing up in Switzerland I was surrounded by mountains and the beauty of nature. At 13, I took scuba diving lessons and had the opportunity to snorkel and dive in the Mediterranean Sea during family vacations in Italy , France and Spain . Those early impressions formed a desire for adventure and sparked my love for the Ocean and Nature.
As I stand on a mountain top I watch the sun rise. Her beams reach into the slightly foggy valley, and slowly burn away the moisture in the air. Fields of wild flowers dance to the rhythm of the wind. I wait for the perfect moment, and with a few steps I am lifted up with my paraglider into the element that makes me forget all earthly connections. Soaring with eagles allows me to taste freedom and at the same time brings forth the awareness of the “now”. Nothing else is important, just being present to what I am doing at the moment, high above the ground.
Ever since my first leap into the unknown, I have taken every opportunity to explore new countries and places. I have experienced the fascinating cultures of Egypt, the hostile beauty of the Sahara Desert, the wonders of the subtropics in West Africa, the richness of sensations in South Africa, the multitude of marvels in the United States, and the lush vibrancy in the Pacific islands. Diving in the Mediterranean and Red Sea gave me an impression of the weightless life in the ocean and I fell in love with the beauty and diversity of sea life.
For me, art is yet another way of experiencing beauty, aliveness, exploration and freedom. I am aware that I am fortunate to see a world of wonders and I feel compelled to reflect the beauty in my creativity. “Giving” time to express myself with photography, digital imaging, film editing, drawing , painting , and my favorite medium, bronze sculpting, simply honors the importance of “being”.
Claudio Derungs
