Rod starts big #Woodvetia final with own wooden figure as a prize

Rod has already had 19 figures of well-known personalities sculpted in Swiss wood by artist Inigo Gheyselinck. "Now we are looking for the model for the last figure, the 20th," says the current #Woodvetia advertisement. "This could be you. Or your grandmother. Or your neighbor. Take part in our competition and let us know who deserves to become a Swiss wood legend."

With the #Woodvetia campaign, the Federal Office for the Environment and the Swiss forestry and timber industry want to encourage the Swiss population to choose Swiss wood when building a house or producing a new piece of furniture. This is because demand for Swiss wood is falling - and this is having a negative impact on local forests. The lead agency is Rod from Zurich.

Werbewoche: How does the competition work?

Regula Bührer Fecker: We invite Mr. and Mrs. Swiss to show us why exactly he or she should be immortalized in wood. Interested parties can take part in a photo competition by uploading an unusual selfie of themselves with a Swiss tree.

What can the winner expect?

The winner will be carved out of Swiss wood by artist Inigo Gheyselinck and will become the final figure of the campaign. Inigo Gheyselinck will sculpt a clay head of the winning person, scan the body and model everything in 3D. A CNC milling machine will then cut the template out of the wood before the figure is carved by the artist's hand. The wood from which the winning figure is carved comes from an elm tree. The artist has already carved 19 figures of personalities from Switzerland's past and present and exhibited them throughout Switzerland.

What do you hope to gain from the competition?

That as many people as possible in Switzerland get to grips with Swiss wood, think about where they can ask for it and demand it. And that they feel like immortalizing themselves artistically in this wonderful raw material.

What did you organize in advance?

We sat down with 20 Minuten and organized the campaign, the elm tree was prepared by the artist, and the group exhibition of all 20 figures has already been organized. Now we just need the 20th figure.

What does the cooperation with 20 Minuten look like?

Cross-media and intensive, we work very closely together for a broad impact.

What conclusions can you draw shortly before the end of the campaign?

We have to draw the conclusion at the very end. At the moment we are highly satisfied with the effect - Swiss wood is being talked about and reported on, people are engaging with it. The campaign has generated coverage in national, regional and local media. The forestry and timber industry is euphoric and is doing everything in its power to convince consumers of the benefits of Swiss wood. #Woodvetia is talked about, liked and lived. And that was the goal right from the start.

If you want to take part, you can get 20min.ch more information.

(aks)