Designboom_ The Artist Residency Reisenberg, a new annual program organized by creative couple Kathrin and Bernhard Schluga, kicks off its inaugural exhibition with Fabian Knecht‘s installation titled Isolation (Felswand) in Austria. Opening on August 30th, 2024, the installation is elevated seven meters along the face of a crag. It is hidden among the vast swathes of forest and meadows surrounding a hilltop farmhouse in the Carinthian mountains which dates back to 1765. The residency aims to foster a unique environment for artistic creation, relaxation, and a deep connection with nature.

Knecht’s Isolation (Felswand) is the latest and most elaborate iteration of his ongoing series that explores the boundaries between artwork and exhibition space. Since 2015, the Berlin-based artist has been constructing temporary white cubes in remote landscapes — from moors and ice fields to forests and wastelands. Within these stark enclosures, Knecht captures the essence of the surrounding environment, creating a shift in perspective and a touch of the surreal.

Fabian Knecht’s intervention, Isolation (Felswand), involves framing a segment of the natural world — a section of a crag face in this instance — within the confines of the white cube, illuminated by neon light. This act transforms the once ‘outside’ into an ‘inside,’ challenging our perception of the natural and the artificial.

Stepping into Knecht’s Isolation is akin to entering a carefully curated scene, a feeling which is further emphasized by the photographic documentation of the installation. However, Knecht’s installations are more than simply captured moments. Unlike photographs, they are living, breathing experiences. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in a state of quiet reflection, where the sounds of nature become amplified, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things. Isolation (Felswand) will be open to the public throughout September, October, and November 2024.