public art
Banal Complexities تعقيدات  عادية⁩

WUNDERKORB 1694

mobile sound sculpture

Malek Gnaoui & Markus Hiesleitner

September – October 2021

Venue: various bike-parks between Praterstern and Volkertplatz in the 2nd district of Vienna

Malek Gnaoui & Markus Hiesleitner, "Wunderkorb 1694", BANAL COMPLEXITIES تعقيدات عادية, September 2021 © Markus Hiesleitner, philomena+

“Wunderkorb 1694” is the title of the artistic collaboration between Malek Gnaoui (*1983, based in Tunis) and Markus Hiesleitner (*1981, based in Vienna). It refers to the term “Wunderkammer”, cabinets of curiosities that became popular among noble circles since the 14th century onwards. Instead of exotic objects, however, the “Wunderkorb 1694” contains a curious collection of sound recordings that acoustically trace the migration flows between Tunis and Vienna. A sculpture made from freshly cut willow rods will be transported by bicycle to various locations in Vienna’s public space. Passers-by are invited to put their heads into the woven “sound helmets” and immerse themselves into foreign or familiar soundscapes.

“Wunderkorb 1694” is part of the project “Banal Complexities تعقيدات  عادية”, a series of 4 collaborative art interventions in public space curated and realised by philomena+ between Praterstern and Volkertplatz from March to October 2021.

artists

(born in Gabès in 1983, lives and works in Tunis) studied ceramics at the School of Art and Design Tunis and the National Center for Ceramic Arts Sidi Kacem Jellizi. Using a range of techniques including video reportage, ceramics, installation, sound, and performance, Malek Gnaoui deals with sensitive questions about social conditions and the concept of ‘human sacrifice’ in all its forms.

MARKUS HIESLEITNER

(born in Amstetten in 1981, lives and works in Vienna) studied performing arts and sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Today Markus Hiesleitner is primarily present through ecologically-motivated projects. Organic materials are often at the core of his artistic work, as is the careful use of environmental resources. In his function as co-operator of the artist-run space Kulturdrogerie in Vienna's 18th district, he also offers other artists space in his "universe of thought and experimentation".

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