Energies
Limewood
52x78 x18 cm
2022
Thesculpture„Energies“is anabstractionofthetwoworld essentialenergieslightandwater.Inourmountains,whereIlive andwork,thesetwolivelihoodsgivingelementscometogether andmoveustoreverenceandhumilityfromforcesofnature. Theseelementsmakeourlandscapelivable,moreovertheygive usenergytoexist.Ihavetransformedthesesystemsintoone abstractedmysticalsymbolfortheirmagicalandbeneficial effecttoshow.Notalwaysthesenaturalenergiesarebeneficial, throughthesharpyshapetheaggressionandrevengeofmother earthshouldbetreated.
ThesculptorValeriaStuflesserdedicatesherselftocurrenttopicsinarepresentationalmanner.Awarethatsculptureisapre-stressedfield, sinceastrongconnectiontotheart-historicalpastisquicklyestablishedthroughformallanguage,sheislookingforawaytolink contemporarytopicsinpost-conceptualthinking,avoidingformaldiscoursesandtherebycreatinganewsensibility.Thiswastriggeredbythe urgetoengagemoredeeplywithissuesofsculpturethatgobeyondtheaestheticpurpose.Thetitleoftheworkindicatesalevelbehindthe purerepresentation,whichisthereasonandtheincentivetobeartisticallyactive.Thesculpturesallowtheviewofacult-archaicworldview, buttheformallanguagebreaksinthefuturistic-looking,abstractedsculptures.
Bondage
Lindentree
40x98 x22 cm
2022
31x33,5x28cm
2023
Therearesomanythingsinlifethatsapyourenergy.Itisdifficulttofindplacesormomentsthatcounteractandgivelifeenergy.SotodayI'm witnessingawidespreadflightofthepopulationintotheworldofsorceryandmagic.Itakeupthistopicandderivedmytitle(bruja=Spanishwitch) fromit.Inordertoescapetheconstantdistractionandtokeepone'sownfocusinview,awidevarietyofhealingmethodsandconcentrationpractices areused.Mymethodisasculpturalonethataimstoradiateenergyinalldirectionsanddrawtheviewerintothemselves.Ihavesculptedthis essentialshapewiththetwoprotrudingconicalbreasts,afterprimevaldepictionsofculticfiguresofwomen.TherearemanyissuesIassociatewith thisabstractrepresentationofbreasts.Ontheonehand,ofcourse,thewarmthofmaternalcareforherchild,whichwealloncewere,droolingonthe milkofdreamsandfallingdrunkonthosebosomsinoursleep,butontheotherhand,thedirectionofthefuture,thispurposefulformpointstothe outside,definesthehorizonand,likeasymbolofluck,promisesusthefertileland.Therigidformbespeaksexcitement,butanexplicitlyfeminineone, contrastingtheconcealedphallicsymbol.
Iwouldliketoaddtwomorethoughtsondualismandcontrast.Inmywork,thethemeisalsoreflectedinthecompositionandaestheticappearance.If wereducethissculpturetoitsessentiallines,itisbasicallylaidoutintheformofacross,allpointsradiatingfromacentralpointtowardsthecardinal points.Alsoimportanttomeisthebendingoftheverticalbarandtheassociatedre-approachofthesuperficialcompositionofanarch.Seeninthis way,thedualismalsospreadsinthebodyofthesculpture.Inmyopinion,thereturnofaformisthesplittingoftheconcentrationontwopoints,along theconnectinglineofwhichenergyalwaysflowsintheformoftension.Thewayinbetweenischargedwithit.Thepointinthemiddleisthemost affectedbythisinteractionbecauseenergiescrosshereanddriftapartagain.
Bruja Limewood
Bouquets
Plaster,polystyrene,textile,polyesterresin
Heightsofsculptures:
1.125cm, 2.150cm, 3.190cm, 4.140cm 2023
ThewordbouquetoriginatesfromFrenchandmeansabunch offlowers.Itisapopularsubjectforstilllifepaintings,known initalianas„naturamorta“.ValeriaStuflesser’sinstallation showsusthatnatureispronetodecayandistransient.Man’s behaiviour,hisexploitationofnatureandtheeffectsofclimate changehavefar-reachingconsequences.Oftheoncebeautiful bunchofflowersonlythebone-likestructureremain.Nature hasbecomearesourcefromwhichtheninturnreturnstoher asaburdenandbecomesnaturamorta(ital.deadnature).
Atlantis
Plaster,structureofiron
Dimensionsvariable
2021
Fotocredits„Atlantis“,2021:JosefaSchundau
Theinstallationconsistsofatotalofninesculpturesmadeofghips-whicharehollowinside-aloftbed,alibraryshelf,constructionsitepanelsand storageshelfpanels.Itisaninstallationalludingtothelockdownsituation.It'saboutstillness,aboutshells,aboutfragilityandaboutdeath.The abstractobjectsarrangedaroundtheloftbedformassociationswithhumanbodyparts,butarenotclearlyidentifiableandarereminiscentof archaeologicalfinds.Theloftbedmadeofbarsrepresentstheenforcedintimacyofthehomeenvironment.
Veryclear (OK)Cult
Epoxyresin
Threestampsofsize60x 80x 2cm
2021
Newideals,oldwisdom,themostdiverseworldviewsandidentitieslivesidebysideinasmallspacetoday.Confusionisgreatforonesearchingfor therightpath.Doesoursocietyneednewgods?However,thisworkisnotaboutthepersonificationofnewideals,butaboutrealpeoplewholiveout theirownsacredandimitategods.Thisworkisaboutmimicri,simulatingbeing,inordertobeabletosurviveintoday'ssociety.Posingbecomesa heroicact,whilethedeedstheyperformarekeptverydecadent:theflagispointingdown,thebowisnotdrawn.Whoishidingbehindthesecharacters andwhodotheywanttobe?Thelived-outwishtobesomeoneelsemystifiesoureverydaylifeandletsusdreamalittleduringtheday.
FotocreditsMatthaeusKostner,www.kostner.info
backto business
Styropor
240x 170x 215 cm
Mysticalbeing,virtualavatar.Huacadeladigitalidad.
Thisenergetic,animalistic-lookingfigureofayoungwomanintheactofgettingupissymbolicofageneralnewbeginning.Inaccordancewithour zeitgeistofanew,femalefuture,thissculptureexpressesthemanyideasbehindthisconcept.Forthefeminineisafieldofaction,anearth.Based onthepre-Columbianimageof"Pachamama"(=motherearth),Iaskedmyselfhowthiscouldhaveanimpactontoday'sdigitalsociety.Initialfeminist ideasrevolvingaroundtheliberationofwomenfromtheirreductiontofertilityarenowexpandedbyanewdimension.Thevirtualstageisasettingfor idealsandnewinfluences.Anyonecanbecomeactiveonlineandspreadtheirownconceptionofreality.
Thefigurehasamagicaltaskcomparabletothatofthesphinx:sheisprotectorandinformant,autonomousandyetboundtoagreaterevent.The responsibilityoftheactofshowingbecomesrecognizablethroughthebluecolorofthesculpture.Thisisconceptuallylinkedtoabluescreen,which isusedindigitalmediatoprojectanimageonthescreenthatdoesnotexistinreality.Nowthough,thebluescreenisn'tthebackground,it'sthe sculpture.SoIplaywiththeperceptionofavirtualworldonthesurroundingrealityand,aboveall,onmyownbody.Thesetworealitiesinteract,one isinseparablefromtheother.Whatisitliketoexperiencetheworldthroughzerosandonesandwhichdigitalidealisprojectedontotherealbody? Atwhatpointdoesthedigitalexceedourexpectationsofrealitysothatitbecomesimpossibletocorrespondtoanidealimage,Iaskmyselfthe question.
Onlycats
Pinewood,syntheticfur
Seriewithsixsculptures,variablemeasures
2023
Provocation.Theyounggirlasanornamentofthemassesinsocial networks. Weallknowtheseclips:videosofreproductionsofthesamepattern, repetitionsofstereotypesontheInternet.Atthebeginningitwasthought thatsocialnetworksweretheepitomeofdemocracy,freedomof expressionandspreadingthecomplexityofoursociety.Todayweseea differentpicture:abeautyfilterthathasalreadybeenusedseveral milliontimestoputamaskonone'sownuniqueface,inkeepingwiththe made-upEuropeanidealofbeauty.Art.Thepinnacleoftechnological development,inthenameof“artificialintelligence,”isbeingusedforthe mostbanalpurposesofhumanneeds.Afterallthemillenniaofhuman reproduction,lookingbeautifulisstillcentral.Asawomanwithafeminist attitudetolife,Iaskmyselfquestionsabouthowthefemalesideof societyunderstandsfemaleempowerment.Thesedays,drawing conclusionsaboutaperson'smentalstatebasedonappearanceis taboo.Nevertheless,prejudicesareconfirmedbycopyingthesame patternoverandoveragain.Alookatidealsrevealsthedeceptivereality ofthehighlife.HaileyBieber,ChiaraFerragni,DuaLipa,NickiMinaj, MileyCyrusandmanyotherssetthepace.Thousandsofsubscribers watchtheircontentandenjoyimitation.Thecellphonefirmlyintheir hand.Skimpyclothing,provocativeposesanddarksunglasseshelpthem getclosertotheinsta/tiktokgirlsportraitandgetmorefollowers.Their idolsaretruemastersoftheinfluencerindustry.Butwhathappenswhen teenagersareconstantlyconfrontedwithsoftporncontentonline?Do theynoticethatthisstagingandmaskingisbeingsoldtothemasa productandthattheythemselvesarebecominganornamentofthe masses?Isourprogressjustamirage,behindthefaçadeofwhichthis primitivepersonalwayslieswithhisanimalinstinctsandbasicneeds?An installationofprovocation:theyoungpersonasawildanimal,asacat, onlythistimewrappedincolorfulfurandcarvedfromwood.Notmeantto lastforever.
31x 30x 33 cm
2021
FotocreditLeonhardAngerer
Thisrobotwithahuman-likeappearanceisbitingintoanapple.Technologicaladvanceshavebroughtmanybenefitstohumans,andartificial intelligenceisworkingtoexpandhumancompetence.TheappleinChristianiconographysymbolizesman'soriginalsininparadise,butalsoheralds theageofhumanjudgmentbetweengoodandevil.Inrelationtotherobot,theapplecansymbolizetheabilityofthetechnicalapparatusto"think"in abinarynumbersystemandalsorepresentstheenergyconsumptionofthatcalculationmoreofahumanperson.Ihaveexpressedthemergingand mutualinspirationbetweenhumansandtechnologicalaidsinthissculpture.Whyisarobotwithafacethatistoohuman-likedisgusting(uncanny valley)andwhyisthereanyeffortbeingmadetomakerobotswithhumanappearanceunmistakable?
Uncannysweet robot Pinewood
Reproduction,nothanks!
Pinewoodand3DprintsinPVC
Installation100x180x24cm
2021
Emotionallycarriedawaybytherealityofwhat biologicalreproductioncanmeanandhowithasbeen manipulatedtogainpoweratcertaintimesinhistory,I createdthiswork.Inthedaysofmygrandparents,you sawonesiblingafteranotherbornintothisworld.Ifat somepointonefellillanddied,thefamilydidnot mournafterthiscreature,butacceptitasanother angelinheaven.Womenofchildbearingageborethis functionasadivinemission.
SoinmyinstallationImadereferencetothesacredby positioningtheminiatureprintsaroundthefigurein theshapeofahalo.Thisfigureofawomanisdepicted inanambivalentposition.Ontheonehand,the positionisreminiscentofthatofanormalbirth,butit iscrampedandpullsthekneesinward,twistingan opening.
Thereproductionsonthewallaremadeof transparentplasticandopticallydisappearintothe wall;theybecomestarswhoselightshadowfallson themiddlefigureofthewoman.
DaseherneZeitalter
Lindenwood,mounting foam,asphaltandpaint
h180cm
2022
Iwantedtobuildamonumentagainstwarandforthefragilityoflife.Iwonderedaboutthe existenceandimportanceoftheindividualtosociety.
Inpostmoderntimeswarsarefoughtonadiplomaticlevel.Normally,onewouldsay,thereisno needforbloodshedtogainground.Andyet,ithappens.Sotometheseliveslostinawarthese days,they’rewastedlives.Thepersonhasitsowndignityanditsownpride,andunfortunately, inapost-covidera,inwhichpoliticalsanctionshavefavouredarevivalofnationalistidealism, alsoidentificationwithadistinctsociety.
Iwantedtodecipherthesefeelingswithimagesinspiredbyarthistory.Firstofall,Iwantedto createamonumentonapedestalwiththeappearanceofthematerialityofalightgreenmarble onfire.Themainfigureisthatofayoungmalenudeinanuprightpositionwithelbowsraisedat shoulderheight.Thegestureispatheticandslender,almostdancingwithcrossedlegs,butthe expressiononthefaceiscold,withoutanysignofemotion.Thefigureisallproudandconfident ofherselfandofwhatisabouttohappen.Inherhandssheholdsaswordandasicklethat encloseinacircularalignmenttheman’sneck,asiftheywerestranglinghim.It’sactuallya suicideact.Theactisnotyetdone,yetthefigureshowsthathehasthecourageandaccepts hisinevitablemisfortune.Thisrepresentationisnotaglorificationofsuicideorthedepictionofa specificcharacter,althoughitisananalysisoftheimportanceoflifeoverdeathandthe expressionoffreeconscienceandchoice.
“Humandignityisinviolable.Itmustberespectedandprotected”.ThisiswhatArticle1ofthe UniversalDeclarationofHumanRightssays.Eachindividualhashisownfreedomtochoose abouthislife.Thescopeofactiononthesocio-politicalstageislimited,butbeingawareofone’s owngenius,noonecanbecompelledtocommitorbeanaccomplicetocriminalacts,somuch sothat,inthewordsofHannahArendt:’noonehastherighttoobey'.obedienceandisan invitationtocivilcourage.
"Humandignityisinviolable.Itmustberespectedandprotected,”saysArticle1oftheUniversal DeclarationofHumanRights.Everypersonhastheirownfreedomtodecideabouttheirownlife. Thescopeformaneuveronthesocio-politicalstageislimited,butifoneisawareofone'sown genius,noonecanbeforcedtocommitorparticipateincriminalacts,sothat,inthewordsof HannahArendt:«Noonehastherighttoobey».Thisisanideathatisbasedonhuman judgment,thatexcludesblindobedienceandisaninvitationtocivilcourage.
FotocreditFanniFazekas
44x30x20cm
2020
ThissculpturewascreatedfromafeelingIfeltwhile studyingabroadinEcuador.Iwasinterestedinthe physiognomyofthepersonstandinginfrontofme. AndIrealizedhowIwasn'tusedtocreatingaface otherthanaEuropeanone.Whatarethe differencesandwhatarethesimilarities?Itbecame cleartomethataftercenturiesofdiscrimination andcolonizationaswellasthedesignationofan “animal”or“savage”typeofhumanbeing,this arbitrarilymaliciouslyconceiveddifferencemust finallybeabolished.Iwantedtojointhisrebellion, bepartofit,supportitandbeenthusiasticaboutit. Thenthecleardemarcationbotheredme:“But you’rewhite.”Asif.Yes,I'mwhite.But…Istopped listeningtothesediscussionsandstartedcreating mysculpture,completelyindependently.Maybe failing.Maybeit'sthesamepersonbothtimes.Just thetwoofus.Withsword.Justlikethebadgirls.
Femaledonorsofwar
figtree
Pinewood,branch,sand,ash,paint
42x18x18cm
2021
Theendofthestoryhasnotyetbeentold.OrmaybeyouknowhowAdamandEvedied? Yes,onearthandnotinheaven,that'sforsure.Butperhapstheyneverstoppedeating, andsodidtheiroffspring.Theythenexcavatedandmovedmountains,itdoesn'tjustsay thatintheBible.Theymadenaturetheirsubject,eveniftheywerenolongerChristian. Thentheygotdowntobusiness;whenthelastpieceofearthdriedout,thelastfruitwas eaten,thelastgarbagebagwasthrownaway...
Adam&Eve
FotocreditsMichaelPezzei
Natural. Weapon!
Series
Olivewood
1. 13 x77 x23 cm;
2.12 x 44x11cm;
3. 63x83x33,5cm;
4.6 x 35 x33 cm;
5. 36 x 91 x23 cm
2020
AccordingtoanItalianstory,theunusualdeformationsoftheolivetreecanbeexplainedasfollows:WhenRomansoldierswerelookingforanice pieceofwoodforJesus'cross,thisrumoralsomadetheroundsunderthetreesthemselves.Theybegantoprotestagainstbybendinginalldirections sothatnobranchwasstraight.Thankstothisaction,noolivewoodwasusedforJesus'cross.Mysculpturesdepictviolenceintheformofguns. Thesearethelastofthemechanicalweapons.Becauseoftheexcessiveeffectsofnuclearweapons,itispreciselythesethatledtotheFreedom Accords.Inaworldwherethedestructionofitcanbepossible,theviewofweaponshaschanged.Weapontechnologyisnolongerthestrategicpower, butonlyoureternalunborn,whomwemustguardandnegate.
FotocreditMichaelPezzeiCurriculum
NameValeriaStuflesser
bornBrixen(BZ)Italy,1996
addressDigonstraße18
39040Kastelruth (BZ)Italy
Tel.00393780888125
Email valeriastuflesser@gmail.com
Homepage valeriastuflesser
Education
2016-2021AcademyofFineArtsinNuremberg(D)
SculptureclassofProf.OttmarHörl(2016-2018), SculptureclassofProf.MichaelSailstorfer(2018-2020), ClassFineArtsofProf.LenaZiese(2020-2021)
Degree:Diploma(march2021)
SummeracademyValGardena(I)2021and2018(respectivelyatwoweekscourse)
Professors:AronDemetz,MarkusDelago,PeterSenoner(2018)
MichaelFliri,ArnoldHolzknecht,SabineFinkenauer(2021)
Grants
2019PROMOSgranttostudyabroadattheUniversidaddeCuenca(Ecuador),FacultaddeArtesVisuales.Granttostudyonesemester, fromseptember2019tofebruary2020.
Worksincollections
RotaryClubNürnberg
StiftungSüdtirolerSparkasse
MuseumLadinCiasteldeTor
Exhibitions
2024“Stay“,AmaHotelSt.VigilValBadia(I)
2023“Genus:dredia“,TublàdaNivesWolkenstein(I)
“schneeweißundhöllenschwarz“,VijionArtGalleryPontives(I)
“Viailluminativa“,HofburgBrixen(I)
“UNIKA“artfairinRunggaditsch(I)
“Shop&Art“St.Ulrich,artinthedisplayoftheshopDesparDolomiti(I)
“TRIENALALADINA“,MuseumLadinCiasteldeTor(I)
“Mudazion“,FestungFranzensfeste(I)
“MittelalterundandereschlechteEntscheidungen“,PalaisMammingMuseuminMeran(I)
“Sinn&Form“,GranaiodiNomi,Rovereto(I)
“FlowerPower“,VijionArtGalleryPontives(I)
“Cunflit:orden–caos“,CircoloGardena,Ortisei(I)
“Desseniessunl'ëila“,CircoloGardena,Ortisei(I)
2022“UNIKA”artfairinOrtisei,ValGardena(I)
“Spinnradfahren”collectiveexhibitioninKlobenstein,BZ(I)
“2ndcreation-artificialintelligence”collectiveexhibitionintheVijionArtGallery,Pontives,BZ(I)
“Shop&Art”St.Ulrich,artondisplayattheshopwindowofScudela(I)
“STARTVI”,collettiveexhibitionatSüdtirolerKünstlerbundUpstairs,Bolzano(I)
“Mix”,collettiveexhibitionatgalleryDerMixer,Frankfurt(D)
“Relaxonart”woodsculpturesymposium“Keschtnweg”inChiusa,BZ(I)
“MAM’SospitaUNIKA”,collettiveexhibitionatMAM’SinSassoferrato(I)
“Vonobennachinnen”,collectiveexhibitioninthegalleryDerMixer,Frankfurt(D)
“Crypto/Cripta”,collettiveexhibitionatCircoloGardenainOrtisei(I)
2021“Can’tdividethestarsfromnight”,collettiveexhibitionatCircoloGardenainOrtisei(I)
“UNIKA”,artfairinOrtisei,ValGardena(I)
“Absolvent/innen2020/21”inthegalleryoftheAcademyofFineArtsinNürnberg(D)
“GebrocheneZeitlichkeit”,showcaseofCircoloGardenainOrtisei,ValGardena(I)
2020“Generalschlüssel”,collettiveexhibitonatAcademyofFineArtsNuremberg(D)
“ToquedeQueda”,collettiveexhibitionatCasadelartistainCuenca,Ecuador(EC)
2019“Rroooaaarr!”,collettiveexhibitionatthezooTiergarteninNuremberg(D)
“DieSupermachine”,collettiveexhibitioninMostvielnearForchheim(D)
“Backup”,collettiveexhibitionatprojectspaceKAinLeipzig(D)
2018“SayYESToSEEMORE”,showcaseoftheAccademyofFineArtsinNurembergatthemainstationNuremberg(D)
“UNIKA”,artfairinOrtisei,ValGardena(I)
“Zipla”,symposiuminCiampinoi,ValGardena(I)
2017“BESTOFF”,studentsandexstudentsoftheclassofProf.OttmarHörl,AufAEG,Nuremberg(D)
