Kunstraum Niederösterreich

Catalogue on the exhibition „PROFILER“: 10 Euro

In this context, this method is tentatively used to provide the artists with an analytical tool to better understand a province, its tradition and its identity. Seven artists participated and focused on the theme „Lower Austria“; their works being project-related and using the most varied media. The theme „perception and reality“ transpires like a red thread throughout the exhibition. „Profiler“ reveals new original aspects regarding the province of Lower Austria. Beyond traditional clichés the artists discover subtile nuances and surprising perspectives.

Going on an excessive tour in search of Lower Austrian wine, Anna Jermolaewa, a native of St. Petersburg, originally, also took along a video camera. The resultant film will be shown at the exhibition as a silent witness of an intense research effort. 
Élise Mougin opened the pages of a Gargantuan sculptural book to deal with the relationship between the individual and the collective. Visualising the number of people living on Earth at a given point in time with dots, she found she had to create a separate edition for the population of Lower Austria.

The city, the countryside, the local style of architecture, the Home Counties, the individual and the community – these were the topics that kept cropping up in Siggi Hofer’s drawings.

In his large-format ink and water-colour drawing “Voglio spazio per crescere”, “I Want Space  to Be Able to Grow In”, he is not depicting any particular landscape or region. He is dealing, instead, with the process of growing and creating of space in a philosophical sense.

Nikolaus Gansterer in his work, “unland”, views a geographical region as perceptional grid and finely woven social fabric. His paper sculpture is reminiscent of a cloud, an iceberg or an island – just not of any real landscape.

The feeling of being at home and sheltered is the theme of Judith Fegerl’s sculpture “Nest”, where  infrared rays convey to the visitors, as they walk below the ceramic lamps, a feeling of wamth.

A Pretty Piece -- used to be part of an advertising slogan for Lower Austria – which Jochen Höller has glued onto four vacuum cleaners. The number refers to the structure of the state, with its four quarters. By relocating all contexts, a subtle system of codes and references unfolds.

As for the Lower Austrian custom of firing off rifles at wedding receptions, Stephan Lugbauer took it as his point of departure for his two-part work. It consists of a life-sized video projection and a photograph depicting the installation at the Art Space Noe. If the individual elements, the cannon, the bride or the house are pulled from the overall context, the patterns of perception are drastically altered. The harmonic and peaceful association of the general environment soon gives way to a threatening, warlike atmosphere. 


The artists
Judith Fegerl, born in Vienna in 1977, grew up in Lower Austria and today lives in Vienna;
Nikolaus Gansterer, born in 1974 in Klosterneuburg, makes his home between Vienna and Maastricht; Jochen Höller, born in 1977 in Amstetten, today lives in Vienna.
Siggi Hofer, born in 1970 in Southern Tyrol, today lives in Vienna.
Anna Jermolaewa, born in 1970 in St. Petersburg, lives in Vienna.
Stephan Lugbauer,  born in 1976 in Vorarlberg, grew up in Lower Austria, today lives in Vienna.
Élise Mougin, born in 1978 in Paris, today lives and works in Paris and Lower Austria.

Concept: Christiane Krejs and Verena Kaspar