Art from Vienna-Hernals: Dioramas tell strange stories!

Art from Vienna-Hernals: Dioramas tell strange stories!

Gerd Winkler and Marko Zink are the creative minds behind an innovative art movement in Vienna-Hernals. These two artists specialize in producing dioramas that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also revitalize an ancient tradition. Her handmade display cases measure 12x12x5 cm and use glass photographs and slides from the 1880s to 1930s as exciting backgrounds. The two artists scour flea markets, antique dealers and the Internet to find the right glass plates, which often need to be restored and colored. Each of these small arts tells its own story – about “obscured heroes” or “misunderstood geniuses”. Topics such as “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Cats on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” show both humor and a strange, fantastic view of well-known stories.

Making a diorama takes approximately four days. Winkler and Zink produce a maximum of 30 pieces per subject, with each one being unique. A particular fan of her work is Nobel Prize winner for literature Elfriede Jelinek, who received a special diorama for her miniature rabbit “Pepino”. Their works will be presented as part of the important “Blickfang Design Fair” at the MAK in Vienna from November 7th to 9th, where they can come into contact with other artists and make their work accessible to a wider audience.

Viennese handicrafts and Advent calendars

However, the presentation of handicrafts in Vienna does not end with the dioramas by Winkler and Zink. The “City Calendar Arts and Crafts” on ORF Vienna presents the work of 23 Viennese artisans and aims to offer a pre-Christmas art journey through Viennese arts and crafts. This cooperation between the Vienna Arts and Crafts platform and ORF Vienna includes an Advent calendar that puts high-quality craftsmanship and creative creations in the spotlight.

The broadcast dates for the various manufactories have already been set and begin on December 1st, 2024. These include many notable companies, such as the Haischberger porcelain manufactory, which will start on December 1st. Here is an overview of the planned broadcast dates:

The project offers an excellent opportunity to discover the diversity and creativity of Viennese handicrafts while increasing anticipation for the upcoming holidays.