Karin Frank :
Design For the Heldenberg Grotto Fountain

The English Garden on Heldenberg near Grosswetzdorf was renovated in the course of the Lower Austrian Landesausstellung 2005 (regional exhibition, on the theme Heroes and Heroines). During the conservation work the largely destroyed decorative figures of the Grotto Fountain depicting aquatic motifs and the circle of life were to be reinterpreted by the artists invited to submit designs. Karin Frank adheres decisively to the function of a grotto fountain as a feast for the eyes and a diversion. Contemporary influences are nevertheless to be clearly seen in her design. The park, where pleasure strollers used to walk, is now primarily used by families and senior citizens who feed the birds. So instead of a reclining water nymph Karin Frank places a girl with plaits at the peak of the stone arch. Water splashes from her little bucket onto three monstrous squeaky ducks. However there is nothing cute about them anymore in the envisaged proportions. But the apparent nonchalance familiar from her work with wood as well as the relaxed and striking carving of the characteristic traits remains in the envisaged stone cast. Sadly, they did not really want anything new, just the same old thing with a new gloss.
(Katrina Petter)