STATEMENT

As an ultra-contemporary Austrian artist, my commitment is to expand the horizons of sculpture in the 21st century. My practice is profoundly inspired by the ubiquitous presence of plastic, a hallmark material of the petromodern era. My artistic trajectory is grounded in a solid educational background at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin and Linz, which established the foundation for my ongoing artistic exploration.

At the core of my practice lies an in-depth investigation of the visual and spatial dynamics between painting and sculpture. The works are produced through an inflatable, thermally driven process. I use the versatility of soft vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) as my primary artistic medium, with air functioning as a temporary formative force. Through techniques such as tracing and high-frequency (HF) embossing, the material is shaped into distinctive high bas-reliefs, constructed from individual, layered film sheets that together form a sculptural, plastic body.

Air does not operate as a static filling material. Rather, it generates volume, tension and spatial presence, while remaining inherently unstable. Changes in volume over time are an integral part of the work and are understood as material-specific processes rather than as deficiencies. This approach allows for both precise formal articulation and the exploration of air-supported structures, introducing an expanded temporal and spatial dimension to the sculptures.

Within my artistic language, the line holds a fundamental position. Whether applied as bold gestures or subtle contours—thick or thin, restrained or intense—it plays a decisive role in conveying narrative and emotional resonance. I regard the line as an essential language of art: a connective system through which different elements converge and meaning is articulated.

My approach advocates the creation of hybrid paintings—works that deliberately blur the traditional boundaries between painting and sculpture and operate as physical embodiments of the images they suggest. By employing air as a formative force, each sculpture becomes an ephemeral manifestation of this element, reflecting my engagement with historical avant-garde movements such as Spatialism and the ZERO group. These references resonate with my practice in their emphasis on spatial perception and their challenge to the two-dimensional limits of the image.

Beyond material and surface, my sculptures actively engage with architectural space, including its acoustic properties. When installed on walls, the inflatable structures not only transform the visual environment but also subtly alter sound dynamics, contributing to an expanded sensory experience. Through this interaction, the works generate immersive spatial situations that extend beyond purely visual perception.

My artistic ambition goes beyond the act of making objects. It seeks to provoke reflection and to challenge conventional relationships between painting and sculpture. Ultimately, I aim to create works that are visually compelling, materially charged and conceptually open—inviting viewers to reconsider notions of space, form, texture and temporality.

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……………. WIKIPEDIA JOHANNES STEININGER M.A. M A

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