Seeds of Life

“Seeds of Life” is a sculptural intervention by Roosa Tulvio and Mathias Gmachl that combines art, nature and community.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the AIR – ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Lower Austria project is turning the Museumsplatz in the heart of the Kunstmeile Krems into an inviting space where people can relax, reflect, and socialize.

This artistic work focuses on humanity’s relationship with nature and our ethical responsibility. The installation provides an opportunity for reflection.

The artists were inspired by the survival strategy of the phasmids, a type of stick insect. These insects have a unique ability to imitate plant parts in their shape, and they also camouflage their eggs to resemble plant seeds. The ants carry the eggs into their nests, where the eggs can develop in a protected environment.

“Seeds of Life” translates this biological principle into a sculptural metaphor. The installation consists of several organically shaped objects that incorporate seating. This hybrid design reflects the idea of coexistence between species, cultures and urban space and the natural environment. 

The sculptures are made from recycled wood, demonstrating a thoughtful approach to resource utilization and acknowledging their potential return to the cycle.

The giant, luminous, sound-activated structures referred to by the artists as ‘seed eggs’ serve as poetic symbols and fulfil an ecological function. These structures are home to living plants, including regional mosses, which produce oxygen and help to purify the air. The eggs act as terrariums and sound boxes.

Curated by Klaus Krobath, program director of AIR - ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Lower Austria
Project management: Elke Pehamberger-Müllner, Lisa Saahs
Construction: Format Engineers
Execution: Lasse Oiva, Justine Berthault, Elexa Poropudas & Millie Collis, Peter Auenhammer
With thanks: Sam Baldwin-Turner, Raimund Beck KG, Rezac-HPP

The creation of the installation can be followed on Instagram. 
Click here for the AIR Instagram account.

Since 2000, the international residency programme AIR has supported artists working in various disciplines, including visual arts, literature, architecture, music, and digital art. To date, AIR has awarded over 1,000 scholarships to artists from more than 70 countries to study in Krems. Furthermore, over 250 artists from Lower Austria have received scholarships to study in Europe and overseas. AIR is a unique space for experimentation, offering artists the freedom to work without pressure. It is one of the most important residency programmes in Europe.