Material Passions

The exhibition "Material Passions", curated by Daniela Wageneder-Stelzhammer and Miriam Laussegger, brings together eight artistic positions grounded in a nearly obsessive focus in materiality in general and the exploration of specific materials in particular.

In her seemingly minimalist textile works, Doris Theres Hofer uses embroidery that looks like a painting to play with the perception of the eye. Melanie Ender works with industrially manufactured semi-finished products, which she assembles into delicate objects with careful consideration of their material properties. Arnold Reinthaler captures the passage of time in white marble, breaking with common associations of stone. In ceramics, Beate Gatschlhofer explores the boundaries between classical craftsmanship and 3D technology. 

The video work Hardly Working by the group Total Refusal addresses the concept of materiality in the virtual spaces of video games. Anneliese Schrenk transforms animal skins into narrative images to explore ethical issues. Miriam Laussegger's works analyze and deconstruct classical printing techniques.  Edith Payer presents unusual finds from her collection of quasi-archaeologically-sourced materials, arranging them in the gallery to create showcases of our throwaway society.

All the artists have been selected by the curators in light of their deep working relationship with their respective materials. In the exhibition, the concept of materiality not only stands for the examination of the properties of specific materials, the materials themselves are the central motors of artistic creation.

Artists Melanie Ender, Beate Gatschelhofer, Doris Theres Hofer, Miriam Laussegger, Edith Payer, Total Refusal, Arnold Reinthaler, Anneliese Schrenk

Curators Daniela Wageneder-Stelzhammer and Miriam Laussegger