LG NATUR #7: Elena Hohl & Michael Günzburger – Danke den Schafen

The collaboration between Elena Hohl and Michael Günzburger arose from a common interest in materials: lanolin is the protective fat on sheep's wool. During the cleansing process, it is boiled off the hair. It is waxy, greasy, sticky and melts ideally under pressure. They write about their work:

In the process, we grease our bodies, stand on each side of the tracing paper – then we press, push, hug. We collide. In this setting with an almost ritualistic procedure, we meet again and again: greased, pressed and finally powdered with pigment. Pigments, lanolin and glassine paper enter into a dialogue, collide with each other, leave traces.

The earth and mineral pigments have different opacity – including sienna, wine red, purple red and chromium oxide green. The fine powder binds in the lanolin to form a dense, matt surface. The glassine paper reacts to this with tension, cracks and folds – each layer a trace.

In the installation, we show the results as shadow theatre: light from within, visible on both sides. This is how we keep the balance between control and chance, light and dark, pressure and touch.

Michael Günzburger (*1974) works with drawing and printing. His working method, which is mostly based on collaborative practices, uses artistic methods to open up poetic spaces that promote interdisciplinary discourse. He is more interested in process than in work.

Elena Hohl (*1995) lives in Chur. Her artistic practice refers to interdisciplinary, analogue media - from illustration, installation to performance - where the whole thing weaves together with a great focus on the textile design field. With her works, she wants to initiate a discourse on topics related to magic, paganism and folklore.