Axel Haagen

Axel Haagen is a Lecturer and head of the stone workshop in the Sculpture department at Berlin University of the Arts, with office hours Tuesdays 10:00-12:30. Contactable via a.haagen@udk-berlin.de, he oversees practical training in traditional stone sculpting techniques.

Haagen specializes in the physical philosophy of stone carving, emphasizing tactile material engagement over conceptual pre-planning. His research explores how bodily memory internalizes sculptural forms through repetitive hammer-and-chisel work, drawing parallels to dance and boxing in spatial cognition. He investigates historical techniques like Egyptian stone polishing methods while advocating for uncertainty-driven creation where material properties reshape artistic visions. Projects demand 60-100 hours of meditative labor with donated European quarry stones, teaching students to transform errors into discoveries through the stone's inherent narrative.

As workshop director, Haagen cultivates collaborative learning among students of mixed experience levels. His pedagogy rejects industrial replication in favor of direct material dialogue, requiring students to physically test stones before committing to projects. The space operates without materials budget, relying on donated granite and sandstone blocks while preserving forgotten hand-tool techniques that industrialization has erased.