Panel discussion: Art in public space – rural, high alpine area

Aesthetics, Function, and Cultural Context in the Rural-High Alpine Setting
Keynote: Otto Huber – Initiator of Horizon Field and Skyspace Lech
Panel discussion with: Gottfried Bechtold – Artist, Marina Hämmerle – Architect, Office for Cultural Building Concerns, Andreas Neuhauser – Head of Communication at illwerke vkw AG, Miriam Prantl – Artist. Art in public space is more than decoration: it shapes urban and alpine landscapes, inscribes itself into collective memory, provokes contradiction, and opens spaces for reflection. Public space is not a neutral backdrop, but a socially shaped place that gains new meanings through artistic interventions. With this event series, we aim to sharpen the perception of art, provide background information, and facilitate conversations between artists, the city, and the audience.
The starting point is Bregenz, a city with an extraordinary density of artworks in public space – including works by Herbert Albrecht, Gottfried Bechtold, Gunter Demnig, Cerith Wyn Evans, Tone Fink, Heinz Gappmayr, Reinhard Gassner, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Ruth Schnell, Roman Signer, Natasa Sienčnik, and many more. Beyond Bregenz, projects in Vorarlberg such as Antony Gormley's "Horizon Field," James Turrell's "Skyspace," Bechtold's works at the Silvretta Dam, Miriam Prantl's Earth Light, and many other significant initiatives connect landscape, light, and perception, stimulating economic, ecological, and aesthetic discussions. Additionally, they highlight the potential of art in public space and generate sustainable tourist value creation as well as international attention.