Art objects created by Andrea Gassner – How is that even possible?
How can the astonishing renaissance of constructive Austrian timber construction be presented in Japan? And how can this be done in one of Osaka’s most renowned art institutions, while simultaneously promoting international knowledge exchange in this field? Gradually, it is becoming clear to a global audience: the "forest-construction-pump" is emerging as a lifeline in the urgent search for solutions to halt the devastating effects of climate change. The hype around timber architecture is closely tied to this, among many other values.
Andrea Gassner’s artistic installation is tailor-made for this complex topic—and for showcasing it to the target audience of one of Japan’s most prestigious art venues. She created expansive folding objects from slender glued laminated timber panels (BSH), displayed in various stages of unfolding. These almost “floating figures” evoke the dominant themes in contemporary timber architecture: joining and folding with planar high-tech materials. At the same time, they express the unique aesthetics and vitality of wood itself. It’s no coincidence that Andrea Gassner draws formal inspiration from the traditional Japanese art of origami. After all, paper is ultimately derived from wood. This makes the desired cultural connection between Japan and Austria truly tangible.
Professionally produced video loops featuring concrete examples of contemporary Austrian timber architecture, along with thought-provoking insights from architects, deepen the semiotic messages conveyed by the art objects. Here, creativity and poetry form an effective symbiosis to communicate the essential messages.
At the end of May 2025, for the opening of the special exhibition titled "verywood – Austrian Architecture Today", Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and his delegation visited the exhibition in the foyer of the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka.
