Spatial installation, Paulusplatz 5, Ortsbezogene Kunst department, University of Applied Arts, Vienna. 2017
Red walls, set of light, newspaper collage, bench.
This work is the result of a reflection about the eerie, undetected gaze and the hidden. The work began with a series of black and white analogue shots Vienna streetscapes, which often seem deserted, uninviting and hiding something. Many places and areas in Vienna look very calm and respectable, although it is likely that many of them witnessed acts of crime and violence. In almost every residential area, something of the sort has happened as some point, possibly in every home. Banal crimes motivated by jealousy or alcohol addiction.
The artist wanted to reconstruct and re-imagine the fact of a crime that happened next to the gallery where the work was exhibited. The crime was reported by the tabloid Heute. The artist altered the typical page of this newspaper so that the viewer could draw a parallel between the crime scene and the exhibition site. To create the right atmosphere, the artist stole a bench from the street where the crime occurred, and transferred it to the gallery. The bench was deliberately damaged slightly - only by going around it one could notice the cuts. Although the bench was still usable however the intuitive desire to sit on it was lessened. The same bench is shown on the front of page of Heute.
The installation aims to confuse and makes you want to solve a riddle or become part of this puzzle. You can solve it only by comparing, matching and mentally copying the elements of the installation.