Cabinet of Curiosities Fusion
As a welcoming gesture to guests, a small section of a Wunderkammer is located behind the reception of the Hotel Galántha. On the top shelf, eight framed photographs offer insights into the object diversity of the famous Schatzkammer at Burg Forchtenstein. These wonderfully captivating photos are complemented by modern glass display cases containing individual decorative objects.
The photographs on display were taken by Manfred Horvath and Andreas Hafenscher, commissioned by the collections of the Esterhazy Privatstiftung under the guidance of Florian T. Bayer. They do not show the actual presentation style of the Forchtenstein Schatzkammer, but rather thematic ensembles that have been specially staged. Among them are groups of objects made of wood or ivory, a collection of finely crafted clocks and automata, and a religious-themed object ensemble. The modernity of these presentations is highlighted by the strong lighting and neutral background sheets used.
The photographs simultaneously highlight the dilemma of any modern museum presentation of a Kunst- und Wunderkammer: Through the separation of objects, their individual artistic qualities can be more precisely recognized and communicated, but this also diminishes their connection to the broader world they once represented—an ordered whole.
The glass cases next to the framed photographs illustrate an everyday cultural counter-trend to this modern desacralization. These cases originated from the initial arrangement of the shelves in the hotel, which was done in 2022 by the Viennese designer and stylist Peter Weisz. While such glass cases were historically used in natural history museums to protect delicate objects, today they can be cheaply purchased in home decor stores. They have become a common feature in living rooms, enchanting viewers with the optical distortions of their glass that create a magical effect: Behind the fog of the glass, the objects on display seem to come to life.
For the "Kunstkammer-Fusion" installation within the VOLIERE, the selected decorative pieces feature birds and two small models of the Nike of Samothrace, further blending the modern with the historical and the
