RUINA MONTIUM
Las Medulas (E), 2018
The ponds and mountain peaks in Las Medulas in northern Spain are the bizarre remains of the largest ancient gold mine in the Roman Empire, created 2000 years ago. The Romans invented a mining technique called ruina montium, which worked similarly to modern fracking. For several centuries tens of thousands of miners dug a network of tunnels through the mountains, with water basins at the top. Enormous amounts of water were channeled into the canals until the water pressure fractured the rock and exposed sediments from which the gold was then washed.
Video Loop:
Las Medulas, 2018
7:20 min
(C) Robert Gschwantner
Video: Las Medulas
Videoloop: Las Medulas
Exhibition view: Artmark Galerie Johannes Haller, Vienna (A), 2020
Ancient coin, minted on the occasion of the Cantabrian wars, (29-19 BC)
List of ancient prices in sesterces (SS)
A work from this series is covered with a woven net of PVC tubes filled with water collected from Lake Carucedo (Las Medulas). Behind this net, a pane of glass is partly masked with geometric motifs and then a mirror is mounted at the back. When the viewer moves, the mirror can be seen to reflect an antique frame in which a shadowy image of an old master painting (about the Golden Fleece and King Midas) is framed. This effect is the result of mounting the antique frame with the mythological scene on the back surface of the abstract form affixed to the glass pane. Front and background surfaces, abstraction and mirrored, figurative subject, all merge into a complex, shifting image.
Exhibition view Artmark Galerie Johannes Haller, Vienna (A), 2020
The judgment of Midas II, 2020, PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 78x67x13cm
The judgment of Midas II, 2020, detail
The idolatry of Solomon, 2018, PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 51x46x10cm
The idolatry of Solomon, 2018, detail
Exhibition view Artmark Galerie Johannes Haller, Vienna (A), 2020
Apollo punishes Midas for wrong judgment, 2020, PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 76x66x10cm
Apollo punishes Midas for wrong judgment, 2020, detail
King Midas, 2019 PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 70x61x10cm
King Midas, 2019, detail
Exhibition view Artmark Galerie Johannes Haller, Vienna (A), 2020
Jason with the golden fleece I, 2019, PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 70x61x9cm
Jason with the golden fleece I, 2019, detail
Exhibition view Hertl Arch. & Galerie H, Steyr (A), 2023
Exhibition view Hertl Arch. & Galerie H, Steyr (A), 2023
The defamation of Apelles, 2018, PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 60x65x12cm
The defamation of Apelles, 2018, detail
Exhibition view Artmark Galerie Johannes Haller, Vienna (A), 2020
Exhibition view Paolo Maria Deanesi Gallery, Trento (I), 2021
In Vulcan's forge, 2019, PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 70x61x9cm
In Vulcan's forge, 2019, detail
Exhibition view Paolo Maria Deanesi Gallery, Trento (I), 2021
Exhibition view Paolo Maria Deanesi Gallery, Trento (I), 2021
Jason with the golden fleece II, 2019 PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 64x54x11cm
Exhibition view Paolo Maria Deanesi Gallery, Trento (I), 2021
The judgment of Midas, 2020, PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 68x53x10cm
The judgment of Midas, 2020, detail
Exhibition view Paolo Maria Deanesi Gallery, Trento (I), 2021
Viaticum to Charon, 2019, PVC-tubes, water from Lake Carucedo, mixed media, 48x39x9cm
Exhibition view Oberösterreichischer Kunstverein, Linz (A), 2021