LIMITED EDITIONS: MAXIMILIAN PRÜFER

German artist Maximilian Prüfer studied Design and Communication Strategy at The Augsburg  University of Applied Sciences and Fine Arts at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna, Italy.

His profound creations delve into the anthropocene‘s human influence on nature and spotlight its global implications. His work primarily focuses on the interconnection of three spheres: nature, animals, and humans, emphasising humanity‘s inherent ties to nature despite our modern detachment.

Prüfer‘s art addresses an array of ecological concerns, including bee extinction and its severe threat to biodiversity, largely stemming from consequential political actions in China during the mid-20th century. His „Fruits of Labour“ exhibition provides a stark depiction of the human effort required to offset biodiversity loss.

Prüfer‘s journeys to China’s Sichuan province unveiled a startling reality - a valley devoid of insects and birds, where manual pollination was the only means of fruit tree propagation. This ecological imbalance, a tragic consequence of the „Great Leap Forward“ campaign initiated by Mao Zedong, led to failed harvests and widespread starvation. Its effects persist to this day.

In a compelling display, German conceptual artist Maximilian Prüfer and lighting designer Sebastian Hepting have partnered with us to construct a chandelier of 1099 glass tubes filled with honey. This remarkable work of art and design stands as the centrepiece of the „Fruits of Labour“ exhibition at Vienna‘s Weltmuseum, a prestigious institution recognized globally for its dedication to world culture and anthropological exploration.

Showcased in the „Fruits of Labour“ exhibition are Prüfer’s photographic works, „Performance - Hand Pollination“ and „From Flower to Flower“. These pieces serve as an ode to human adaptability, highlighting our capacity to fill in for pollinators like bees in the delicate process of fruit tree pollination.