2022
Collaboration with Karl Karner
KS-Room,
Kornberg bei Riegersburg
In their third major collaboration, Karl Karner and Nana Mandl attempt to make the status quo of our society visible and tangible. This ambitious project spans sculpture, painting, installation, and performance, raising both ethical and aesthetic questions. Central to this project is the confrontation and possible connection of different perspectives.
For this exhibition, they ventured beyond their usual methods, introducing each collaborator to the other’s familiar techniques. Several large-scale paintings were created in alternating cooperation, blending Karner’s sculptural drawings with Mandl’s figurative painting. The exhibition also features numerous hanging, lacquered metal casts by Mandl that complement Karner’s central aluminum sculpture.
Additionally, the exhibit includes interactive elements like “feeding bowls,” filled during the opening with 12 different dishes, drawing visitors closer to the artworks.
Their previously distinct approaches now appear inseparable. Abstract painting meets drawn elements and defined motifs, dissolving into layers of complexity. This mix of internet-sourced photos and archival images addresses key themes the duo explores: globalization, coexistence, economy, exploitation, love, and morality.