Biography
Nicolas Schenkel
Born in Geneva in February 1968
Qualifications:
Diploma as a Teacher of the Alexander Technique
Certificate ASCR (Aide-Soignant Croix-Rouge)
Work experience:
Assistant-bricklayer, barman, theatre usher, cleaner, opera extra, children’s play leader, hotel receptionist, courier, night watchman, server, dental technician, event organiser, interior designer, perfume laboratory assistant, care worker for disabled people, teacher of the Alexander Technique, medical triage specialist, associate editor, nursing aide, first secretary, inventor-sculptor, pianos converter, electric guitars maker, matrix mouvement practitioner.
In my childhood, I was crazy about radio-controlled models… cars and planes that I transformed with passion. In adolescence, I wondered about the meaning of life and since then, I never stopped to read books talking about religions, mysticism, esotericism and personal development. I explored various spiritual teachings and learned the Vipassana Buddhist meditation, which I will practice for many years. On two occasions, I undertook tertiary studies at Geneva University, first in Psychology then in Pharmacy, before moving to England to pursue a formation as a teacher of the Alexander technique (1998-2001). Following the reception of my diploma, I taught in this field for two years. Then, in 2003, I moved to India, where I spent an incredible year. On my return to Geneva, I worked for a few months, then embarked on a 2'000 km trek to Santiago-de-Compostela. I arrived there 80 days later, and ended my pilgrimage at Cabo Fisterra, facing the ocean. In 2016, I went to Peru to experiment the shamanic technics of altered states of consciousness. A deeply moving and tremendously interesting experience.
In addition to this, and as far as I can remember, I have always been drawn towards creative artistic work. I studied classical guitar from 1978 to 1990, then piano and music writing from 1990 to 1993. In 1994, I took up painting and, in 2005, I designed and built the first functioning Pianococktail instrument, which will be touched up in the following years (increase in the number of cocktails). In 2008, I stumbled on some potter’s clay and fashioned a small bust of St John Vianney, aka “Le Curé d’Ars”. Through this work, I discovered sculpture and, as I yearned to reproduce my pieces using bronze, a whole new field of endeavour opened up to me : metal work. To this end, I had to learn how to weld, forge and melt metal. In 2012, I created the second Pianococktail, improved technically (use of pneumatic cylinders) and aesthetically (ironwork). In 2013, I built, on commission for the play "Le Bruit du monde" (by Yves Pinguely), the Piano Artishow ... a piano that crumbles, moves, smokes and rocks, when it is played. In 2017, the songwriter Pascal Chenu asked me to make and pilot micro-catapults hidden in the piano of his show "Complètement largué". To do this, I learned computer aided design tools, 3D printing and remote control of servo motors via Arduino and Bluetooth digital interfaces. At the same time, I found an electric guitar in a trash can. She is in a sorry state and I decided to resuscitate her. Excited by this operation, I then launched into the creation of unusual electric guitars, combining various materials, such as wood, aluminum, synthetic glass, copper. Since then, I've been exploring the technologies, components and subtle parameters of this instrument, as well as processes allowing to personalize my guitars, such as laser cutting, CNC sculpture and electro-engraving.