Irony
objects, plastic figure, iron, 18 x 8.5 x 15 cm, 1.15 kg, 2025
iron donated by Maria, Johannes and Noel Wahlström
iron donated by Maria, Johannes and Noel Wahlström
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 in March 1963 - which makes him almost exactly the same age as me - introduced by the words: HE LIVES! HE WALKS! HE CONQUERS!
According to his creator Stan Lee, Iron Man is a "quintessential capitalist", actively fighting communism and other threats to "liberal democracy". Being a businessman and weapon industrialist he finds machines easier to interact with than humans, believing machines can be more easily controlled and repaired. He is unable to maintain romantic relationships despite his wealth and outstanding intellectual talents. The Iron Man's armor serves as "a psychological crutch preventing him from dealing with his own inner demons" (Dennis O'Neil). This also manifests in negative traits, including belligerence, negligence, and misogyny - consequently leading to his severe alcoholism in the 1970's. He even becomes homeless.
In Tales of Suspense #89 he confronts a new super villain: THE MYSTERIOUS MELTER! On the cover of this edition we find Iron Man on a construction site, his armour already dripping, under fire of what seems to be a highly efficient welding apparatus, operated by his enemy. "Irony", though, is a narcissistic version of this battle. A hot embrace of his mirror image, which unfortunately turns out to be reflected on the surface of an iron manufactured by JURA, a Swiss brand which has stood for "the highest quality, pioneering innovation, first-class design and sustainability in practice since 1931". So choose your enemy carefully, even if you are a futurist with a genius-level intellect...
According to his creator Stan Lee, Iron Man is a "quintessential capitalist", actively fighting communism and other threats to "liberal democracy". Being a businessman and weapon industrialist he finds machines easier to interact with than humans, believing machines can be more easily controlled and repaired. He is unable to maintain romantic relationships despite his wealth and outstanding intellectual talents. The Iron Man's armor serves as "a psychological crutch preventing him from dealing with his own inner demons" (Dennis O'Neil). This also manifests in negative traits, including belligerence, negligence, and misogyny - consequently leading to his severe alcoholism in the 1970's. He even becomes homeless.
In Tales of Suspense #89 he confronts a new super villain: THE MYSTERIOUS MELTER! On the cover of this edition we find Iron Man on a construction site, his armour already dripping, under fire of what seems to be a highly efficient welding apparatus, operated by his enemy. "Irony", though, is a narcissistic version of this battle. A hot embrace of his mirror image, which unfortunately turns out to be reflected on the surface of an iron manufactured by JURA, a Swiss brand which has stood for "the highest quality, pioneering innovation, first-class design and sustainability in practice since 1931". So choose your enemy carefully, even if you are a futurist with a genius-level intellect...
Black Swan
object, model airplane, iron, 13 x 7 x 9.5 cm, 0.35 kg, 2025
airplane donated by Roger Eno
iron donated by Doris Ingrisch
airplane donated by Roger Eno
iron donated by Doris Ingrisch
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
installation; 3 objects, model airplanes, hotplates à 11 x 26 x 27 cm, 3 channel video-loop 6:25, 2021
Video-Teaser, 00:26
EXHIBITIONS
___ IDENTITY – the inner Border, Pawelhaus / Pavlova Hisa, Bad Radkersburg, A, July 16th – Oct 10th, 2022
___ Open Studio Days, AIR InSILo, Hollabrunn, A, Oct 16th – 17th, 2021
___ Open Studio Days, AIR InSILo, Hollabrunn, A, Oct 16th – 17th, 2021