Ars Electronica Center
THU November 28, 2019, 7 p.m – 8 p.m. / SUN December 1, 8 & 15, 11:00 a.m – 12:00 noon
(Linz, 25.11.2019) “Art in Advent” will be the motto of Deep Space LIVE on Thursday, 28.11.2019, at the Ars Electronica Center. The focus of this evening will be on a sculpture which is made of manganese steel, is about 13 cm tall and that immediately captures the attention of viewers: “The Future of Mankind” by Michael Blümelhuber, the most important representative of steel-cutting art, shows a child that wants to close the rift in the world caused by the First World War. By means of a gigapixel photo by the Linz photographer Florian Voggeneder, the work of art can be explored down to the smallest detail. The expert commentary is provided by the theologian Dr. Michael Zugmann from the Pastoral Office of the Diocese of Linz and the art historian Dr. Lothar Schultes from the Upper Austrian Provincial Museum. On the Advent Sundays, 1.12., 8.12. and 15.12.2019, “Art in Advent – Future of Mankind” will be repeated.
About Michael Blümelhuber
Michael Blümelhuber was born in 1865 in Christkindl near Steyr. He came from an old family of swordsmiths, first worked as a cutler and later turned to the artistic processing of steel. His decisive achievement as a craftsman and artist was that for the first time in the long history of iron cutting he cut works from the full material. Blümelhuber created hunting knives, cutlery, scissors, letter openers and jewellery, but his main works were primarily symbolic sculptures. Today he is regarded as the greatest master of iron and steel cutting. After his death in 1936, a street in Vienna was named after him.
The technique of steel cutting
The steel cut – also called steel engraving – is in the broadest sense a further development of the hand engraving technique. The main focus is on the plastic, three-dimensional design of the steel. This technique originated in the development of tool steel technology in the 17th century. It is worked with chisels and a chasing hammer; the fine work is done with hand engraving gravers and hallmarks, with which the surface is smoothed and the contour is worked out. In the beginning, this technique was used to make and finish objects of daily use and weapons. Michael Blümelhuber was the first to use this technique to make objects of art.
Deep Space LIVE
The Ars Electronica Center hosts a Deep Space LIVE event every Thursday (except holidays) at 7 PM. Each presentation features ultra-high-definition imagery in 16×9-meter format and is accompanied by expert commentary, entertaining stand-up repartee, or musical improvisation. Whether great works from the history of art, space travel, journeys of discovery in the nano-world or a live concert is what you’ve come to behold, Deep Space LIVE stands for enlightening entertainment amidst breathtaking worlds of imagery. Admission costs €3. With a valid museum ticket, the visit is free of charge.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arselectronica/49120042263/
Mankind’s Future / Fotocredit: Ars Electronica – Robert Bauernhansl / Printversion
