At the Arthotel Lasserhaus, five contemporary works stand out between the Baroque architecture and the house’s rich history – subtle, playful, and full of thought-provoking questions about time and structure
The decorative façade in the heart of Brixen hints at what’s inside: art is alive at Arthotel Lasserhaus. The building’s oldest walls date back to the early 15th century, and the Baroque collection of the owners’ family shines in full glory. But then, five contemporary works quietly make their presence felt playful, subtle, and full of surprises, reminding us that nothing is set in stone. History meets the present. Expectation meets the unexpected. It’s a celebration of time that deserves a “like”.
A View of the Structure
In the artist’s room, a contemporary installation by Esther Stocker hangs from the old vaulted ceiling, creating not only a striking contrast with the building’s historic past but also an unusual tension within itself. The work consists of wooden and metal objects encased in a vinyl fabric patterned with black-and-white geometric shapes. The irregular casing distorts the pattern, symbolizing the breaking of established systems and the creation of new perspectives. And one can’t help but wonder: where might this idea lead, when lying on the bed and gazing up at Stocker’s planetary formations above?
Esther Stocker
* 1974 in Schlanders, lives and works in Vienna
Thoughts and Planets, 2023
Vinyl, wood, metal
Per object between 20 – 60 cm
Stufe für Stufe
Wie viele Menschen diese sprialförmige Treppe aus Holz wohl schon hinauf und hinuntergegangen sind. Im Eiltempo, zwei Stufen auf einmal nehmend oder verträumt und innehaltend? Es ist ein scheinbar banales Alltagsobjekt, das Alexander Wierer hier mit einem wortwörtlichen Twist versehen hat. Fast unbemerkt ist in der ersten Sprosse des Handlaufs ein Holzelement eingebaut. Es lässt sich wie ein Uhrwerk aufziehen, bevor es sich dann gegen das hölzerne Geländer entlädt. Ein Sinnbild, wie die Zeit vergeht.
Alexander Wierer
* 1989 in Brixen, lebt und arbeitet in Brixen
Lieder über die Zeit, 2023
Uhrwerk, Holzgeländer
70 x 3 x 3 cm
Bedtime Gymnastics
In Guest Room No. 1, the bed itself becomes a work of art. Instead of a traditional headboard, an installation by Ingrid Hora dominates the wall, reminiscent of gymnasium climbing frames. But some rungs are missing, others are cut or bent. It’s not meant for exercise. Rather, it’s an invitation to let your thoughts tumble and stretch, discovering new perspectives along the way.
Ingrid Hora
* 1976 in Bolzano, lives and works in Berlin
Wall Bars, 2023
Beech wood
455 x 315
Lettering Trilogy
Three works by Petra Polli can be found in the hotel. Expect the Best is built from a metal scrap that once belonged to the roof, boldly playing with anticipation through its lettering. M is a blue-and-white neon scrawl, giving the impression of a child’s drawing, perhaps even hinting at an “M” for Mama. Its seven peaks reference seven generations, all of whom lived here childless over the past 200 years. Finally, the graffiti-inspired concrete sculpture LIKE encourages visitors to give the house a virtual thumbs-up, a subtle interplay between the public and the private.
Petra Polli
*1976 in Bolzano, lives and works in Bozen and Leipzig
expect the best, 2023
White neon, copper sheet
28 x 47 cm
LIKE, 2016
Concrete sculpture
80 x 88 x 4 cm
M, 2023
Neon lines white and blue
78 x 66 cm
Visualized Vines
In the Lasserhaus wine cellar, Peter Kogler’s work wraps the walls, vaults, and floor like a second skin. It’s an organic web of computer-generated image codes that hugs the architecture. Tendril-like lines and dancing spherical forms, reminiscent of vines and grapes, make the space pulse with a gentle, psychedelic energy, inviting the eye into a small, visual delight.
Peter Kogler
* 1959 in Innsbruck, lives and works in Munich and Vienna
untitled, 2023
Digital print film
Arthotel Lasserhaus is a member of Lifestylehotels
photos: Franziska Unterholzner; Thomas Roetting (expect the best)
