In a multi-stage process, Tue Greenfort investigated the landscape of south-east Styria as an economic region and a dynamic field between different agricultural models and ecological aspects. Following an initial intervention in September 2014 that involved upturning an information column and putting up a hoarding, the second step involved a sculptural treatment of the Meierhof site in Kornberg. Soon after the Second World War, this was a site of seed growing, giving rise to new high-yield, hardy varieties on the basis of local genetic material from maize, millet and broad beans.
Greenfort, on the other hand, is interested in alternative methods of farming. He experimented in Kornberg with mycorrhiza, a symbiotic association between fungi and plants that produces a wide range of living organisms. For this purpose, built a special greenhouse consisting of glass, clay and wood walls. It has three separate, walk-in inner rooms with three different microclimate zones. He planted truffle trees and grew fungal cultures on tree trunks. Around the house he laid out an orchard with other newly planted fruit trees and flowers.
The aim of the overall site is to establish a stand-alone aesthetic experimental set-up. Greenfort is once again researching the foundations of our life, translating his findings into the language of art. He is thus focusing on the development of industrial agriculture and the widely branching system of food production around the world that is today facing a fundamental political decision of global consequence: is monoculture destroying biodiversity?
The project of the Institute for Art in Public Space Styria evolved from a dialogue with collaboration partners from participating disciplines.
Tue Greenfort is an internationally renowned artist who caused a stir with large-scale works at the Sculpture Projects Exhibition in the urban space of Münster in 2007 and at the Documenta 13 (2012), among others.
- Dirck Möllmann
Das Projekt des Instituts für Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Steiermark entstand im Dialog mit Kooperationspartnern aus beteiligten Gemeinden.
Standort:
Dörfl, 8330 Kornberg bei Riegersburg
46°58'37.5"N 15°52'42.8"E
