Revolutionary art in Bad Ischl: Esther Stocker's spectacular installation!

Revolutionary art in Bad Ischl: Esther Stocker's spectacular installation!

The latest exhibition by artists Esther Stocker and Flora Miranda in the stables of the Kaiservilla Bad Ischl offers visitors the opportunity to experience a fascinating tension between contemporary art and historical surroundings. The exhibition, which opened on April 18th, will be on view until April 27th, 2025 and brings together around 30 wrinkled sculptures by Stocker that were created specifically for this exhibition space. This room, which was once used for Emperor Franz Joseph's horses, has been renovated in recent years and has since attracted a lot of visitors with various art projects, including works by Ai Weiwei. From mid-May it will be part of a large show by the artist Erwin Wurm.

Esther Stocker's installation is characterized by objects that lie on the floor and appear to the viewer as if they had been accidentally rolled or thrown into the room. The works, made of printed PVC with internal structures, are reminiscent of meteorites or crumpled attempts at geometric drawing. This depiction emphasizes the contrast between the historical surroundings of the imperial villa and modern art.

The artistic practice of Esther Stocker

In his remarks, Marco Fiorletta emphasizes that Stocker's works challenge the viewer's perceptual relationship. They play with expectations and reference Gestalt psychology by filling gaps in the image and creating ambiguous surfaces. In a certain way, Stocker's art represents a gravity that at the same time slips away and thus eliminates the relationship between perception and surface.

Flora Miranda's "Crincle #5" dress is particularly eye-catching and is presented on a mannequin. Miranda is an Austrian fashion designer and visual artist living in Antwerp. In her work she addresses the numerical self and questions the systems of the virtual world. Her pieces are not only represented in international exhibitions, but have also been collected in well-known museums, including the MAK in Vienna.

The connection between art and psychology

The connection between art and psychology is an interesting field that Irene Daum also addresses. She describes how psychological research examines the perception of art and the artistic creation process. These aspects are particularly relevant when it comes to the works of Stocker and Miranda, which address the viewer on different levels and encourage them to examine their own perceptions.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the perception of art is subjective and shaped by personal experiences. Studies show that emotions and empathic resonance play a central role in enjoying art. After all, art has the ability to convey new insights and promote tolerance.

Overall, the exhibition in the stables of the Imperial Villa offers an exciting examination of contemporary art and its interaction with the historical backdrop. The works of Esther Stocker and Flora Miranda invite you to question perception and cultivate the dialogue between past and present.

For more information about the exhibition and the artists, visit the links: Vienna.at, Badischl Salzkammergut, and Science & Art.