17 February 2022

Circularity, nature protection in art and design: Jeweler Freywille presented the new collection 'Spirit of Vienna' at the apartment of artist, environmentalist Friedensreich Hundertwasser at Kunst Haus Wien

Today, Fashion.at followed the press invitation to the presentation of the new collection 'Spirit of Vienna' by fire-enamel jeweler Freywille in the private apartment of artist and environmentalist Friedensreich Hundertwasser at the Kunst Haus Wien in the 3rd district of Vienna. The press tour started at the ground floor with an introduction into the museum and the artist's environmental work. Kunst Haus Wien is located in a reconstructed building from 1892 and was opened in 1991 in the artist's iconic architecture.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who died 22 years ago on 19 February 2000, was an early thinker of circularity, nature protection and the realization of green concepts in architecture and urban planning. His thoughts about the forestation of cities (keyword vertical gardening), the circle of life respectively recycling as answers to climate change, the exploitation of nature and the prevention of waste were groundbreaking in the early 1970ies and influenced the urban planning in Vienna. Landmarks such as the Spittelau Waste Incinerator for the production of heat from waste with the fassade by Friedensreich Hundertwasser tell the history of sustainability projects in Vienna. Kunst Haus Wien is one of the most prominent examples for Hundertwasser's eco-architecture.

Today, the press meeting didn't go through the house's exhibitions. The museum's permanent exhibition on two floors is contributed to the work and life of Friedensreich Hundertwasser; at other spaces, temporary shows with focus on nature approach the topic 'climate' from an artistic perspective such as at the upcoming exhibition 'When The Wind Blows' (opens on 11 March) where works by 20 international and Austrian artists will explore the energy of wind as well as the dangers of storms or air pollution under the aspect climate change.

Friedensreich Hundertwasser communicated his environmental ideas with his paintings such as through the symbol of the spiral which stands for life and death but also for the infinite. "The spiral is the symbol of life and death. The spiral lies at that very point where inanimate matter is transformed into life," wrote Friedensreich Hundertwasser in 1974 (cited from hundertwasser.com/en/texts/die_spirale).

Image, right: The ring 'Nautilus' in the 'Spiral of Life' design is from the Hommage à Hundertwasser collection series by Freywille.

The spiral abstracted to closed loops, to circles is also the main symbol at the artwork which inspired the designers of jeweler Freywille for a new series of bangles, earrings, pendants and matching scarves with the name 'Spirit of Vienna'. The fire-enamel jewelry was placed on a table at the salon with view at the roof terrace of the private apartment of Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The interior design of the apartment cites elements of his ship 'Regentag' (Rainy Day). In this context, walking on the sloping ground might make visitors think of sailing in a steady strong wind on the wide ocean. The apartment is used for workshops, media events or by Artists in Residence such as Annie Leibovitz or guests of the Kunst Haus Wien museum like Paul McCartney on occasion of the exhibition of Linda McCartney's works.

Images, above: Snapshots from the press meeting on 17 February 2022 at the apartment of Friedensreich Hundertwasser at Kunst Haus Wien on occasion of the presentation of the new 'Spirit of Vienna' collection from the Hommage à Hundertwasser series by Freywille. It's announced that the new collection will be available in two weeks in stores and online.

It's the fifth Friedensreich Hundertwasser collection of Freywille's 'Hommage à Hundertwasser' series. The range of bangles, earrings, pendants, rings are made of 24-karat gold which is framing the hand-painted fire-enamel interpretations of Hundertwasser's poster 'Imagine Tomorrow's World'. The poster was created by Hundertwasser for the 50th anniversary of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 1998 for collecting money for the support of environmental projects.

By leaving the apartment, Fashion.at received the press material including a booklet of the jeweler's collections and a scarf with the design by Freywille inspired by Friedensreich Hundertwasser's 'Imagine Tomorrow's World'. It's so far the happiest and most optimistic scarf Fashion.at ever received.