Das Edelweiß: gebraucht - missbraucht (The Edelweiss: used - abused)
Installation, 2022

VIDEO >> (11:13 min), 2022

In the context of collective MÖGLICHKEITSMENSCH Concepts, research 2021, exhibitions, readings 2022 art contains, initiator: Gertrude Moser-Wagner 2022: Kunsthof Thomatal - Entscheidung fürs Lebendige, exhibition talk with Martin Gautsch (Kunsthof Thomatal), Doris Jauk-Hinz, Maren Hirt (Hirt-Haus), Eva Ursprung, Gertrude Moser-Wagner (Curator). VIDEO >> (11 min) Hirt-Haus Atelier Scheifling - Opening of the concept exhibition, Mögliche Performances, Curator: Maren Hirt. Sternstudio and Salon, Vienna 2023: Literaturhaus Graz, Opening programme BALANCING, Curator: Gertrude Moser-Wagner. The power of the extract of the extremely frugal and resistant plant was staged in its small size and added to the great cultural myth of Edelweiss. The project focusses on the valuable Edelweiss acid and the transfer of its super vitality to human medicine. At the same time, it thematises how the Edelweiss was/is metaphorically used - abused - in the form of cultural transfers and iconic attributions. The Edelweiss was appropriated and misused by political systems as a flower of male heroism and a symbol of home, even at the front. The Edelweiss acid was made available for the exhibition "Möglichkeitsmensch" at the Kunsthof Thomatal/Lungau by the Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy at the University of Innsbruck.

Das Edelweiß: gebraucht-missbraucht, Installation, 2022. Photo: Doris Jauk-Hinz

Das Edelweiß: gebraucht-missbraucht, Installation, Kunsthof Thomatal, Photo: Doris Jauk-Hinz, 2022 Das Edelweiß: gebraucht-missbraucht, Detail, installation, Kunsthof Thomatal, Photo: Sigrid Schönfelder, 2022

The Edelweiss is known for its extreme frugality and resilience; in the course of evolution it has learned to adapt to barren, from a human perspective hostile, environments in order to survive. Edelweiss carries this power within itself - physiologically as a plant and culturally as an image. The power of the medicinal plant Folk traditions about the medicinal plant, the so-called bellyache flower, and alchemical records prove its healing application in earlier times and cultures. It is still the subject of research in pharmaceutical and chemical natural sciences today, and protects people through its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In order for the Edelweiss to survive the high altitudes without radiation damage, for example, the fine hairs of the bracts filter out harmful UV radiation. Such properties serve as a template for skin care products in natural cosmetics, also to counteract natural skin ageing. The myth of the Edelweiss The Edelweiss has been/is metaphorically abused in the form of cultural transmissions, often in a clichéd way, and plays a leading role in iconic attributions in numerous films and songs as the queen of the mountains, the alpine star, the flower of love. It provides material for myths and legends, is a symbol for the pure, for the proof of love as a sign of masculinity. It is an Alpine custom but also a kitsch model for souvenirs, the eternal flower as a coveted souvenir... Appropriated and abused by political systems, the Edelweiss went to the front as a flower of heroism, uniform components included badges with the inscription "Sieg oder Tod im Alpenrot" (Victory or Death in Alpine Red), it was a symbol of home under National Socialism, the Führer's favourite flower... The persecuted Edelweiss pirates resisted this. In today's political resistance, the Edelweiss is the symbol of the online daily newspaper ZackZack. The installation In the exhibition, the power of the plant's extract is staged in its smallness and brought together with the great cultural myth of the edelweiss. The installation focuses on the valuable Edelweiss Acid / Leontopodic Acid with forward-looking properties in medicine and cosmetics. The research group led by Prof. Stuppner, Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy, University of Innsbruck, has been studying the plant's ingredients and active substances for many years. Thankfully, the Edelweiss acid will be made available for the duration of the exhibition. The mill as an exhibition venue Although in different proportions and concentrations, the mill as an exhibition site also stands for processes of extracting liveable culture from nature. Flour from ground cereal grains was/is the basis for the production of the worldwide primordial means of life, bread, which also has fundamental, metaphorical cultural meanings, e.g. in religions. More awareness, acceptance and trust in self-regulating processes of nature - in the cultural power from nature - would be a possibility for humans to prevent the seemingly inevitable downfall without their omnipotent interventions.

Das Edelweiß: gebraucht-missbraucht, Installation, Kunsthof Thomatal. Photos: Doris Jauk-Hinz, 2022

Hirt-Haus Atelier Scheifling, Ausstellung, Eröffnung am 26.08.2022, Photos: Gertrude Moser-Wagner, 2022
Sternstudio, Wien, Ausstellung, Eröffnung am 26.09.2022. Fotos: Ewa Kaja, 2022

Literaturhaus Graz, opening programme BALANCING, 22.09.2023. Photos: Ewa Kaja, 2023

Credits Acknowledgements • Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hermann Stuppner and Dr. Stefan Schwaiger, Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy, University of Innsbruck. Edelweiss Acid / Leontopodic Acid is provided for the duration of the exhibition in the mill, Kunsthof Thomatal. In the video Bauchweh, Entzündung, Herzinfarkt: Edelweiß kann helfen the research results are presented, 2019, 6:38, University of Innsbruck.

• Die Kräutermacherei, Tina Rosenkranz, lecture on Edelweiss in the context of collektive Möglichkeitsmensch, art contains - artlab (2021). • ZackZack, online daily newspaper, Dr. Peter Pilz (ed.), willingness to be presented within the framework of the project. • STYX Naturkosmetik, willingness to be presented within the framework of the project. • Cäcilia Spreitzer, mayor in St. Georgen am Kreischberg, Stmk. and master baker, prototype for the Alpine star bread. • Liesi Löcker, organic farm Sauschneider, Alpine star bread for opening performances. • Martina Gautsch and Gerhard Maierhofer, opening performances. • Werner Jauk, sound work. • Julian Jauk, lasercutting for the installation, phozos.. • Ludwig Moser, video recording of the exhibition talk at Kunsthof Thomatal. • Gertrude Moser-Wagner, Sigrid Schönfelder, Bgmin. Cäcilia Spreitzer, Eva Ursprung, photos. • Gertrude Moser-Wagner, initiator/organiser; Eva Ursprung, partial organiser; Martin Gautsch and Maren Hirt, hosts.

Cäcilia Spreitzer, Prototype for the Alpine star bread, 2022. Photo: Cäcilia Spreitzer