Our entire world is set up in a way that prevents us from paying attention to our surroundings. During the first COVID-19 lockdown, I learned to slow down and observe more consciously whatʼs around me. In this period of reduced stimulation, I became increasingly aware of the beauty hidden in daily life. Itʼs the ability to find contentment in the ordinary, while living in a society of constant achievement, growth, and the exceptional, that can bring us joy.

 

Through social media we are constantly overstimulated. Increasingly intense imaginery and short-lived stimuli dominate and quieter experiences often escape our attention. Through painting, I seek to restore value to these moments and encourage a more conscious way of looking.

 

I grew up in Tyrol, Austria, surrounded by some of the most striking alpine landscapes in Europe. Yet even these extraordinary mountains can become almost invisible through constant exposure. This phenomenon, the way the exceptional gradually becomes ordinary, lies at the core of my artistic practice.

 

Although my paintings are often associated with photorealism, technical accuracy is not the primary objective of my work. The decisive artistic act lies in the selection of the subject: the moment, object, or sensation that deserves to be seen again. By zooming in on ordinary things, they become estranged.

Familiar objects are transformed into something almost unknown, much like a word that is repeated over and over until it begins to sound strange. Through such an intense focus, the familiar loses its obviousness. In this way, I turn ordinary things into something valuable.

 

I completely remove spatial context. What remains are objects or structures that gain an autonomy. The consistent absence of context in the depicted subjects invites viewers to reflect. A clear example of this is the painted meat structure. Many immediately fall into political discussions, while others are fascinated by the aesthetic value of the fibres.

 

Alongside representational works, I increasingly explore abstraction to translate emotional and sensory experienses into a visual form. I aim to extend my work beyond the visible reality toward the communication of feelings and atmospheres that cannot always be expressed through imagery.

 

Materiality plays an important role in my work. I primarily paint on wooden panels, mirrors, and reclaimed glass, deliberately incorporating pre-existing materials whose traces of use and imperfections contribute to the character of each piece. These surfaces reinforce my ongoing interest in overlooked value and the rediscovery of what already exists.

 

My work has been exhibited in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, including exhibitions at Galleria d'Arte Merighi and Galerie Cimaise. I was nominated for the Schiele Art Award in 2024 and 2026 and received First Prize in 2026.

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