The media artist Michael Schuster always throws artistic problems, which are always directly connected to our lives, back on themselves and invites diverse questioning. Mysteriously, succinctly and without interpretative explanations, he mirrors realities conceived in the most reduced form, which carry their message within themselves for us to reflect on. He confronts us directly and abruptly with a topic and thus opens up new horizons of discovery.
One of our most important means of communication is language. The internationally used and internalised lettering FOR YOUR INFORMATION is an offer addressed to all of us, triggering questions and exchange, which reaches us anonymously and yet specifically. Information means the transfer of knowledge that is needed to better understand the respective circumstances. FOR YOUR INFORMATION awakens our curiosity and opens us up to the desire to expand our mental experience and cognitive knowledge.
In the increasingly digitalised, AI-influenced and controlled transfer of information, the truth of which must always be questioned, the artist recalls the beginnings of media coding as a mediation practice with the generally understandable but indeterminate phrase FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
The message appears in clearly and widely recognisable block letters in complementary colours, analogous to the seemingly self-contradictory promise. FOR YOUR INFORMATION - is the lettering itself the information, the medium the message or is it an indication of further references? Michael Schuster explores this question in the context of our relationship to the world and how we deal with it, as well as claims and credibility.
In its self-designation and simultaneous promise, the lettering is both independent and part of the walk-in artwork, which actually unfolds information on history and essence in both digital and analogue form, stimulating and expanding our minds.
In the knowledge that information is a matter of sender and receiver, i.e. a counterpart, the artwork invites us to enter into dialogue with each other, with the park, the sculptures and the different seasons and weather conditions.
Open your mind and welcome to the Austrian Sculpture Park!
