From Innsbruck to Bucharest: Hans Platzgumer's life between art and existence

Von WOM

As part of a fascinating conference that took place on October 25th and 26th at the University of Bucharest, there was a special cultural event. The Austrian author Hans Platzgumer appeared and read from his new novel "The enormous world in my head". This literary highlight was organized in collaboration with the Austria library "Hugo von Hofmannsthal" and the Austrian cultural forum Bucharest, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the library.

The reading that Prof. Dr. Gabriel Horațiu Decuel was not only offered exciting insights into Platzgumer's work, but also on his personal journey through life and art. Platzgumer, a versatile who started as a musician and is now considered a renowned writer, shared his experiences about change and the pursuit of new horizons. "Innsbruck has become too tight for me - in all relationships," he said. This foresight is reflected in his work and shows how the different stages of life have shaped it.

The path from rock star to the writer

The change from music to writer is a central topic in Platzgumer's career. "The urge to create and the curiosity drive you here and there," he explains. His musical career began in the early nineties, and after being active in numerous bands like H. P. Zinker, he increasingly turned to literature. This development, according to Platzgumer, was not a jump, but a slow sliding into the writer.

In his conversations, the author emphasizes the importance of gaining experience in every phase of life. "Actually, we can be happy if we have as many traces of a life in us as possible," he says and sees a constant challenge in a way of life. Every experience, whether positive or negative, contributes to growth and reflection that is essential for him to mature as a person and writer.

In addition, Platzgumer also comments on his latest work. The novel "The Honory World in my head", which is strange in terms of structure, is considered unique by critics, since it does not require a traditional narrator. "Usually the first-person narrative forms the easiest," said Platzgumer, "but here it is the same: I go into this head completely, as is monster."

Kafka as a source of inspiration

Another tension in the conversation was the relationship with Franz Kafka. Platzgumer has dealt intensively with his work and confesses that his new novel is a tribute to the great writer. "I dealt a lot with Kafka and this novel puts my monument to him." The creative process, which was inspired by Kafka's diaries and thoughts, shows how deep this connection is. Platzgumer brings the characters and their inner conflicts into a modern interpretation that tinkers with Kafka's universal straps but is at the same time new and relevant.

The reading was not only carried out in a conventional form, but was also processed multimedia, which further enriched the staging. Platzgumer emphasizes that every reading is a performance for him that plays with different voices and sound dimensions. "I put on paper what I perceive as a sound," he explains, showing how his musical past is still present in his writing. This interdisciplinary approach takes off its readings from others and creates a closer connection between music and literature.

The event in Bucharest was therefore not just a simple reading, but a deep experience that suggested the audience to think about life, art and the power of words. Platzgumer's approach to reflect the diversity of life in his stories makes him a unique representative of contemporary literature.