The Upper Austria State Culture Company (OÖ Landes-Kultur-GmbH) is presenting a dual exhibition featuring the works of married artists Annerose and Alois Riedl, offering visitors insights into their distinctly different creative worlds. The exhibition, which opened on Wednesday at the Castle Museum, celebrates the artistic achievements of both creators, with special significance as the Inn Quarter artist Alois Riedl marked his 90th birthday this year.
Alois Riedl's exhibition, titled "Untitled," centers on a remarkable series of works created between 1975 and 1985. Meanwhile, Annerose Riedl's exhibition "Between Spaces" features her unmistakable female figures, ladders, and painted-over school maps that have become signature elements of her artistic expression. The 76-year-old artist's work creates unique spatial dialogues through these distinctive components.
According to press materials for the exhibition curated by Inga Kleinknecht, Riedl demonstrates an exceptional ability to create images from just a few strokes and forms that appear both harmonious and profound. His powerful, striking large-format works move seamlessly between representational and abstract art, shaped by Riedl's own distinctive formal language. As a visual foundation, the artist prefers worn upholstered furniture, which he translates in reduced form onto paper or canvas.
The exhibition highlights include triptychs from the 1980s, which are considered pinnacles of Alois Riedl's artistic achievement. Alongside these renowned triptychs, smaller works by the self-taught artist are also on display. Riedl began his artistic journey in the early 1960s and remains active in his creative pursuits to this day. His professional career as a full-time artist began in the mid-1960s, and this year his works were already featured at the Egon Schiele Center in Český Krumlov.
Alois Riedl's artistic accomplishments have been widely recognized throughout his career. He received the Cultural Prize of Upper Austria as early as 1976, and for his 80th birthday, the Angerlehner Museum in Thalheim near Wels dedicated a comprehensive retrospective to his work. The artist, who was born in the Inn Quarter region, continues to create and innovate well into his 90th year.
Annerose Riedl, born in Passau in 1949, brings her own distinguished artistic perspective to the joint exhibition. She received the State Cultural Prize for Visual Arts in 2005, recognizing her significant contributions to the field. In her "Between Spaces" exhibition, she creates perspective relationships between her sculptures and spatial situations using discarded, painted-over school maps. This innovative approach creates the impression that her figures are moving toward or away from the space, establishing a dynamic relationship between the artwork and its environment.
The self-taught artist, who has been working in three-dimensional art since 1980, also opens pathways through her ladder installations. These ladders lead upward, downward, or into nothingness, leaving the interpretation open to viewers' imagination and personal experience. Her sculptural arrangements position figures in groups on larger wooden ladders or place them on small black ladders under glass domes, creating intimate viewing experiences.
Annerose Riedl's characteristic wooden female figures are prominently featured throughout her exhibition space. These sculptures gaze into the room with self-confidence and a touch of irony, embodying the artist's distinctive vision and commentary on femininity and presence. The figures represent a central theme in her work, combining strength and humor in their silent but powerful presence.
The artist couple lives and works together in Brunnenthal near Schärding, where they continue to develop their individual artistic practices while supporting each other's creative endeavors. This joint exhibition at the Castle Museum offers a rare opportunity to see both artists' works in dialogue, showcasing how two distinct artistic visions can coexist and complement each other while maintaining their individual integrity and creative independence.
