Sculpture Symposium St. Margarethen

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Karl Prantl, work on the boundary stone
Sculptures in the St. Margarethen quarry, winter 1960/61

In 1959 the first international sculpture symposium took place in St. Margarethen , Sankt Margarethen in Burgenland . Similar sculpture symposiums spread quickly and worldwide. Even today, more than 150 symposia refer to this first event.

Conception of the sculpture symposia

In 1958, the sculptor worked Karl Prantl (1923-2010) in the quarry at one of the Burgenland State Government commissioned large Memorial (landmark - current location Mitterberg in Pöttsching at the former Austro-Hungarian border Austria-Hungary) , the remains after the one place State border at Nickelsdorf to Hungary was intended. The idea of ​​setting up a work of art in a place where, unlike in a museum, can be fully perceived by many people, allowed the project in Prantl to mature to bring this idea to other artists and to collaborate in the Margarethen quarry to invite.

Together with the sculptor Heinrich Deutsch and the psychologist Friedrich Czagan , Karl Prantl organized the participation of artists in the first symposia in the following years in the quarry of St. Margarethen.

From mid-July 1959, the first symposium was held in the Roman quarry St. Margarethen with the participation of fourteen artists from seven countries. The stone sculptors created their first large sculptures in the quarry and communicated their ideas and plans. Literary and musical formats were also organized during the coexistence for the duration of the symposium. The annual events were partly financed through the sale of the sculptures.

Karl Prantl wrote on the occasion of the first symposium in St. Margarethen: “ Thinking of us sculptors ourselves, it is so that through the experiences of St. Margarethen, through this going out into the open space - into the quarry, into the meadows - we are free again were. It was about this release or free thinking in a very broad sense. For us sculptors, the stone is the means to come to this free thinking - to free yourself from many constraints, narrowness and taboos ”.

Also as early as 1959, the organizers wrote manifestos in which they clarified the (socio) political aspirations of their ideas, namely to postulate a signal for international understanding through their cross-border community for the freedom of art - in view of the reality of the "Iron Curtain".

He fought the 'Iron Curtain' from the start - specifically on the Berlin Wall - where from September 1961 (until August 1962) a humane message was countered by working on sculptures on the Platz der Republik together with colleagues parallel to the newly emerging wall: "We tried to bring the wall down."

Development of the St. Margarethen Sculpture Symposium

Karl Prantl

From 1959 the symposia in St. Margarethen were Austria's largest private art initiative for contemporary art. Encouraged by the great interest, the association "Symposium European Sculptors" was founded, which ensured the continuation for the next few years. Subsequently, eleven further symposia were held in St. Margarethen by 1971 . The end came in 1976, with the failure of a project to design Vienna's Stephansplatz.

In 1979, under Maria Biljan-Bilger , the Symposium of European Sculptors Association was re-established, combined with an expansion to new areas of the visual arts . Therefore, in the following years mainly ceramic symposia took place, which cooperated with the Akademie am Stubenring and were considered to be a branch of this institution.

In 1989, due to the return to the aspect of abstract stone carving, initiated by Karl Prantl, the reconstitution by Paul Schneider, who was chairman of the association until 1992. Paul Schneider was responsible for the "Symposium on the Border" in Saarland on the border between Germany and France and initiated a return to relevant aspects of sculpture in order to counteract the handicraft of pottery.

The sculptor's house

Karl Prantl, table in front of the sculptor's house

Initially, the barracks of the Passion Play were available to the sculptors as living quarters, which were moved from the village square of St. Margarethen to the quarry in 1961 at the suggestion of Karl Prantl. From 1965 the plans (Jaques Moeschal and Barna von Satory) for the so-called sculptor's house were developed for the western slope of the Rust Hill and finally completed based on a design by the architect Johann Georg Gsteu . In 1967 Karl Prantl received the first Austrian builder award for the concept.

Heritage

In total, more than 110 international artists made over 150 sculptures from the local sand-lime brick in St. Margarethen . In its entirety, an incomparable total cultural work of art was created . Today there are still around 50 works of art at their place of origin, spread over the southwestern foothills of the St. Margarethener Kogel.

Quarry

four sculptures on the western slope

In the Roman quarry of St. Margarethen , amateur actors have performed passion plays every five years since the 1960s. The quarry has been the backdrop for annual opera performances since 1996. Souvenir shops were built in the entire access area. The St. Margarethen Roman quarry has become a tourist attraction.

Two sculptures recall the first phase of "movement": Pierre Szekely and Erwin Thorn. The exemplary first "Land Art Position" of Austria is the joint work of five Japanese artists: Makoto Fujiwara, Makio Yamaguchi, Tetsuzo Yamamoto, Takao Hirose, Satoru Shoji. "The Japanese Line" extends from the north wall of the quarry to the chapel at the highest point of the St. Margarethener Kogel. Unfortunately, the factory is severely affected by the expansion of the quarry's industrial mining. From 1963 the sculptures were positioned on the hill or, subsequently, on the slope of the hill. The Japanese garden by Kengiro Azuma and a three-part concept by Heinz Pistol stand in a special context to nature. Karl Prantl's "Stein für Josef Mattias Hauer" (1964) provided the impetus for art in the context of the flora found embedded in the stone ridge of the mountain. The area around the quarry is part of the Fertő / Neusiedler See cultural landscape founded in 2001 .

For the 50th anniversary of the sculpture symposium, a ceremony took place on October 16, 2009 in the sculpture house of the Association of European Sculptors in St. Margarethen, at which the Austrian President Heinz Fischer congratulated.

gallery

chronology

1957/58

Karl Prantl is working on the 'Grenzstein' - a work commissioned by the Province of Burgenland for Nickelsdorf at the border crossing to Hungary, in the idyllic quarry of St. Margarethen. The barbed wire of the 'Iron Curtain' is contrasted with a statement of freedom with art! Current location: at Mitterberg, Pöttsching on the former KK border Lower Austria / Bgld.

1959

Foundation of the symposium of European sculptors in the quarry of St. Margarethen. Karl Prantl initiates the sculpture symposium together with Friedrich Czagan and Heinrich Deutsch: eleven sculptors from eight different countries spend three months working and living together in the quarry. Karl Prantl now devotes himself every winter - in addition to his artistic work - to the preparations for the sculpture symposia, starting from St. Margarethen. Further symposia - together with colleagues - in Eastern and Western Europe and finally in America and Asia will follow. The idea of ​​the sculptor symposia, in which autonomous, sculptural activities - mostly outdoors, in the vicinity of quarries - is possible, is sparkling and enjoys a great response. It enables Karl Prantl and his international colleagues to realize their first monumental sculptures in community and exchange, which fit into specific rural and urban contexts and open up new perspectives for artistic creation with distinctive, cultural-political discourses. In the beginning, the contributions by Eastern European protagonists in particular are of political (and aesthetic importance), taking into account the given division of Europe. Karl Prantl realizes 'Five Invocations' (destroyed in a demolition and finally restored - current location 'Pöttschinger Feld').

1961

At the suggestion of Karl Prantl, the venue for the St. Margarethen Passion Play was built in the Roman quarry, from whose ambience the opera festival ultimately grew.

1962

German Critics' Award (category: fine arts), goes to the 'Symposium of European Sculptors' with special recognition of Karl Prantl as the initiator of the symposium on the' Berlin Wall ', which is currently being pulled up. The jury's reasoning: 'The idea of ​​doing free' sculptural work 'in the open air and merging a modern sense of form with an old, handcrafted approach has been taken up all over the world. The international impulse of the symposium idea is one of the most convincing evidence of the unbroken creative power of the modern age.

1963

Expansion of the sculptural activities from the quarry to the hill of St. Margarethen in order to create new artistic perspectives and to experiment with expanded materials (LandArt). Karl Prantl realizes 'Stone for Meditation' from conglomerate (current location: 'Pöttschinger Feld').

1965

After several years of planning (with sculptor / architect Jacques Moeschal from Belgium and Barna von Sartory from Hungary), the sculptor's house was finally started on the ruins of the old canteen at the entrance to the gorge to the quarry (former railway line to Vienna) according to plans by the architect Johannes Gsteu . Karl Prantl completes 'Stone for Joseph Mathias Hauer', which was created over two years and emphasizes the surrounding area with its materials - Land Art (location on the hill of St. Margarethen).

1967

Completion and inauguration of the sculptor's house with the award of the 1st Austrian building contractor honor to Karl Prantl and SEB.

1968

Karl Prantl receives the City of Vienna Prize for Sculpture.

1969

Double symposium: Uta Peyrer-Prantl organizes the 'International Painting Weeks' in the orangery of Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt. Prominent artist couples such as Kenneth Campbell (sculptor) and Pat Sloane (painter) from the USA are among the participants. Karl Prantl realizes the 'table' in front of the east side of the sculptor's house (location: Pöttschinger Feld).

1970/71

The sculptors dedicate themselves to topographical specifics on the hill of St. Margarethen: 'Japanese Line' - an exemplary Land Art manifesto by Makoto Fujiwara, Makio Yamaguchi, Tetsuzo Yamamoto, Takao Hirose and Satori Shoji, which marks the entire hill from the quarry. Furthermore, Kengiro Azuma's 'Rock Garden' and Heinz Pistol's '3 Positions'.

1972

General assembly of SEB in Tirgu Jiu, Romania, at the 'Table of Silence' by Constantin Brancusi - to make it easier for artists from the Eastern Bloc to participate. The meeting gave the impetus for a new orientation of the symposium idea: to sculpt more urban contexts and to specifically devote oneself to the redesign of Stephansplatz in Vienna.

1975/76

End of the symposium activities on site with the failed project for Stephansplatz in Vienna, which should redevelop and redesign the square in the heart of the metropolis after the subway construction and was designed as a research contract by the City of Vienna for SEB.

1977/78

Karl Prantl and his family live and work in New York.

1986

Karl Prantl represents Austria at the Venice Biennale

1989/90

Karl Prantl dedicates himself to the suppression of 'fact and place' in Rechnitz / Bgld. Karl Prantl knew for a long time about the cover-ups surrounding the 'location of the crime' in order to finally establish the 'Kreuzstadl' as a 'place of remembrance'. This act of active remembrance (uncovering) is an anchor and a key to Karl Prantl's lifelong commitment par excellence: to 'provide relief, set stone marks and create' places of meditation 'in a variety of contexts. This was especially true of the theme of World War II, which he only barely survived: 'Nürnberger Kreuzweg' (1985–91) - consisting of 14 granite slabs that were made by concentration camp inmates for the large Nazi deployment street in Nuremberg , 'Weg nach Kawasaki' Expo Osaka 1968. (Memorial stone for the displaced teachers and students from the Academic Gymnasium at Heumarkt in Vienna…). Thanks to Karl Prantl's perseverance, together with Marietta Torberg, the 'Kreuzstadl' property was finally acquired (250,000 schillings). The SEB association subsequently renovated the ruins and placed the sculpture by the Israeli sculptor Kosso Eloul (1920-1995) from St. Margarethen in front of the building. (In 1960, Kosso Eloul created the 'Yad Vashem' ('Eternal Flame') memorial, the most important place of remembrance for the Holocaust in Israel). In 1993, SEB finally handed over the 'dedicated area' to the Israelite religious community of Vienna in a ceremonial act.

1993

Last move of sculptures from the quarry to the hillside.

1993/2007

Multi-year artist-in-residencies of international sculptors in the Sculpture House.

1999/2000

Karl Prantl, discovers the Mitterberg site near Pöttsching on the former KK border between Austria / Hungary, now Burgenland / Lower Austria, and organizes with Irene Izmeny (ex-mayor of Pöttsching) the repositioning of the boundary stone, which was no longer effective due to the border reconstruction near Nickelsdorf . Further symposium sculptures from unsuitable locations in Burgenland will be repositioned on Mitterberg.

2004

Publication of the book: 'Gehen von Stein zu Stein', published by Passagen Verlag, Vienna by Katharina Prantl, design: Walter Bohatsch (State Prize: 'Most Beautiful Book of the Year 04').

2006/2007

Due to the expansion of the industrial quarry and the associated endangerment of works of art, with the organizational help of Ursula Pasterk (ex-City Councilor for Culture of Vienna), 18 more unique pieces by St. Margarethen are being repositioned at the Mitterberg location. Together with the 'Grenzstein', a new, meaningful artistic landscape has now been created on Mitterberg. (Four other sculptures that are owned by the Province of Burgenland at less attractive road crossings: Herb George - USA, Milos Clupac - Czech Republic, Oleg Truszynski - Poland ... are also to be set up on Mitterberg.)

2008

Grand Austrian State Prize for Karl Prantl.

2009

For the 50th anniversary of SEB in the Sculpture House, in the presence of Federal President Dr. Heinz Fischer, Minister of Culture Claudia Schmied, Governor Hans Niessl, Provincial Councilor Helmut Bieler ... a 'Public Private Partnership' solution for the art and nature area of ​​St.Margarethen should be found.

2010

Karl Prantl dies in Pöttsching in his parents' house. A solution to the situation around the total work of art 'Symposium of European Sculptors' on the hill of St. Margarethen is not in sight.

2011/17

Revitalization and partial renovation of the sculptor's house by Sebastian Prantl (chairman SEB) together with the architect Johanna Rainer through EU funding from the Burgenland Cultural Office. Partial clearing of the hill and restoration of individual sculptures. Regular guided tours, exams at international art and architecture universities and events based on the Sculpture House: 'International ChoreoLab Austria', 'Literature Room in the Sculpture House' in cooperation with Beatrice Simonsen: 'Art & Literature' and 'Trans Art Works' ...

2015

Publication of the book: 'Art lies in nature' - spectacular sculpture parks and art landscapes by Silvia Langen, published by Prestel Verlag (Munich-London-New York).

2015/17

Legal disputes and ultimatums of the Esterhazy-Holding against the association SEB increase. Attorney Dr. Robert Mogy, Archi. DI Dr. Renata Hammer, Archi. Mag. Johanna Rainer and Sebastian Prantl represent SEB in the negotiations with Esterhazy-Holding, which does not allow cooperation on equal terms and does not appreciate the expertise of the association.

2018

The Supreme Court decides in favor of the Esterhazy Holding. The Sculptor's House will be cleared under great time pressure (14-day period) in August 2018 by the 'Symposion of European Sculptors' association.

Attendees

1959 to 1969

The following took part in the 1959 symposium :

The following took part in the 1960 symposium :

The following took part in the 1961 symposium :

The following took part in the 1962 symposium :

The following took part in the 1963 symposium :

The following took part in the 1964 symposium :

The following took part in the 1966 symposium :

The following took part in the 1967 symposium :

The following took part in the 1969 symposium :

1970 to 1978

1970

The following took part in the 1970 symposium:

  • Makoto Fujiwara
  • Takao Hirose
  • Satoru Shoji
  • Makio Yamaguchi
  • Tetsuzo Yamamoto

1971

The 1971 symposium was attended by:

1972-1976

The following took part in the project (Stephansplatz project):

1979 to 1986

1979/80

The following took part in the 1979/80 symposia and the reconstitution of the association and its expansion to new areas of the visual arts:

  • Maria Biljan-Bilger
  • Maria Burger
  • Ludwig Gleissner
  • Manfred Hirschbrich
  • E. Kolowratnik
  • Martin Rauch
  • Mark Yudell

1981

The following took part in the 1981 Symposium, a joint symposium of sculptors and painters:

1984

The 1984 symposium, the International Ceramic Symposium, was attended by:

1985

The 1985 symposium (International Ceramic Symposium) took part:

1986

The 1986 symposium (International Ceramic Symposium) took part:

literature

  • Wolfgang Hartmann (Ed.), Werner Pokorny (Ed.) U. a .: The sculpture symposium. Creation and development of a new form of collective and artistic work . Hatje, Stuttgart 1988, ISBN 3-7757-0263-6 .
  • Katharina Prantl (Ed.): Walking over the hill of St. Margarethen from stone to stone. (Sculptures and their artists in St. Margarethen) . Passagen-Verlag, Vienna 2004, ISBN 3-85165-657-1 .
  • Jutta Birgit Wortmann: Sculpture Symposia: Origin - Development - Change. Shown using selected examples and supplemented by discussions with those involved . Accompanying material: 1 CD-ROM. Lang, Frankfurt am Main (among others) 2006, ISBN 3-631-55273-4 .
  • Marlen Dittmann, Lorenz Dittmann, Jo Enzweiler (eds.): Karl Prantl, large stones and sculpture symposium. (...) on the occasion of the awarding of the Sparda-Bank-Südwest -Prize for special achievements of art in public space 2006/2007 . Verlag St. Johann, Saarbrücken 2007, ISBN 3-938070-12-9 .
  • Alfred Weidinger (ed.), Franz Hubmann (photo): We want to set standards. 50 years of the St. Margarethen Sculpture Symposium . Verlag Publication PN ° 1 - Library of the Province, Weitra 2009, ISBN 978-3-900000-46-2 .

Web links

Commons : Sculpture landscape in St. Margarethen  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Alois Vogel : Ten years of sculpture symposium . In: Arbeiter-Zeitung , February 26, 1969, p. 8 below.
  2. ^ Hartmann: The sculpture symposium .
  3. ↑ Wortmann: Sculpture Symposia .
  4. ↑ On the 80th birthday of the sculptor Karl Prantl. Gentle conversations with stones and people . In: www.basis-wien.at , Wiener Zeitung , November 5, 2003, accessed on October 28, 2010.