Press Centre
Kristallwelten Are Transformed:
A Journey Of Discovery To The New Chambers Of Wonder
Deep down in the depths of the Giant, a wonderful metamorphosis has taken place. Among the new Chambers of Wonder, which are again open to visitors since December 1st, 2007, are Jim Whiting’s Mechanical Theatre, an interactive Ice Passage, a new space for temporary exhibitions, La Primadonna Assoluta, the separate kingdom for Jessye Norman, Poseidon’s Puzzle, 55 Million Crystals by Brian Eno, the Augentrost installation by Hans Magnus Enzensberger, the crystal staging of Reflections and Timeless Swarovski, making a fascinating transition onto the Crystal Stage, where visitors are given the opportunity to purchase Swarovski items.
The Entrance Hall – fascination of contrasts
Having arrived inside the Giant, visitors are wrapped in the magic of Yves-Klein-Blue. The Centenar, at more than 300,000 carats the world’s largest crystal, rests in the middle of the room surrounded by art objects by Keith Haring, Niki de Saint Phalle, John Brekke, Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. Next to the Centenar sparkles the smallest crystal with a diameter of just 0.8 millimetres and 17 facets. An eleven meter-high Crystal Wall then leads the visitor further to the depths of the Crystal Worlds.
Jim Whiting’s Mechanical Theatre – movement as if by magic
The desire for change, passion and erotic fantasies motivate people – and Jim Whiting’s Mechanical Theatre. Human craving and its fulfilment is represented by Adonis, while Whiting’s delicate Walking Woman is a central subject of the stomping, hopping installation of the British artist, which can also be interpreted as a surreal fashion show of strange creatures. Rigid objects come to life. Clothes appear to be more spiritual than mere textile covering and visitors are captivated by objects that seem to dance and fly about. The installation is an excellent example of Swarovski’s technological expertise as every individual figure was precision made in the technical department of the company.
The Crystal Dome – reflection of nature
Following the expansion to the magical kingdom of the Giant, the centrepiece of the Crystal Worlds - the Crystal Dome - remains unchanged. Following the principle of the construction of the geodesic astrodome of Buckminster Fuller, 595 mirrors form an acoustic and an optic kaleidoscope. Multiple sounds and light break out of the facetted walls and convey to the visitor the feeling that they find themselves right inside a crystal.
The Crystaloscope – a place of harmony
It is in this chamber that the visitor has time to relax, to lean back and enjoy the harmonizing effect of the changing crystallizations in the astrodome. André Heller designed the largest kaleidoscope in the world together with the world famous artist Peter Mandel. The kaleidoscope is itself reflected in an expanded crystal with 440 facets, which in turn are again reflected by the kaleidoscope.
The Crystal Theatre of Susanne Schmögner – a free-for-all fantasy experience
‘Montgolfieren’, flower angels, plants that eat crystals and dancing suns: With each figure in the Crystal Theatre, the Austrian stage and costume designer Susanne Schmögner has created a series of characters for the kingdom of fantasy. The multicoloured light reflected by the crystals gives a special dramatic effect to the subterranean backdrop, which is reflected on a water surface. The brilliance of the crystal thus becomes the central design element of the mystical stage scenery. Just as the iridescent crystals inspired the artist’s creative energy, now the glittering world, which has been complemented by new fantasy figures, triggers a flood of associations. While watching this nusual exhibition, the visitor’s thoughts, accentuated by the creative fragrances of Jane Haidacher, drift to the Giant. Susanne Schmögner opens the door of a crystal wonderland to the observer of her mystical creature, whereby Alice and the fairytale figures of the playwright Ferdinand Raimund transport them to a magical world.
The Crystal Calligraphy – the world language dipped in light
The American glass artist Paul Seide created a language, understandable to all, using gleaming blue-green crystal calligraphy. Dedicated to the expressionist poet Georg Trakl, the writing, which displays poetry of Baudelaire, appears to move in soft momentum.
The Ice Passage – the drive for research leaves behind its tracks
The mysterious Ice Passage provides a new attraction thanks to the artistic work of designer Oliver Irschitz. The intuitive navigation of the visitor through a dark room becomes an important element of the overall design. It is only when the visitor decides to enter into the unknown terrain that the glittering icy world changes its appearance and discloses its secrets. The way through the Ice Passage therefore becomes an interactive treasure hunt where the visitor is transformed into both researcher and discoverer. They discover portable crystalline structures beneath their feet that allow them to pass safely through the passage. A light follows their movement, ensuring a point-by-point insight into a glittering world.
The Gallery – masterful interactions
Right from its beginning, Swarovski has always had a close association with art, illustrated by the collection of works by renowned artists from the past two centuries. Paintings, photos, sketches and prints by Gustav Klimt, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, Peter Kogler, Kurt Kocherscheidt, Helmut Newton and many other artists convey the impression of the development of the visual arts in Europe. In order to give more room to this body of creative work, Crystal Worlds now offers a new space for temporary exhibitions. Whether it is a special exhibition dedicated to the artistic work of old masters or one that concentrates on the talent of contemporary avant-garde works, art is now given a central place in the heart of the Giant.
Giant’s Belongings – material for stories
What does a giant need for his journey around the world? His gloves, walking stick, accordion and his giant ring are already laid out for him in the Crystal Worlds, lending food for fantasy for young and old.
La Primadonna Assoluta – two harmonious symbols
The world-renowned soprano Jessye Norman is celebrated in the Crystal Dome with thousands of sparkling Swarovski crystals. André Heller captured the final aria ”Thy hand, Belinda” from the opera “Dido and Aeneas” on film and it is now screened in a special room created for the memorable opera diva where visitors can watch her performance on a 71-inch plasma TV screen and hear her in fine quality audio while leaning on transparent poles. The room is dark, illuminated only by the brilliance of the diva herself so nothing is allowed to distract from her voice and grandiose appearance. The immortalisation of outstanding artists finds its equivalent in nature in the rock crystal from Madagascar, which unfolds its power at the feet of the great diva.
Poseidon’s Puzzle – the expressive colour play of the deep sea
Leaving the world of opera, the visitor takes a narrow path into the kingdom of Poseidon, the God of the Sea. The visitor is then greeted by an expressive colour fireworks display, which brings the works of Erich Heckel, August Macke and Lyonel Feininger to life, all of whom were inspired by the iridescent light and precision-cut facets of crystal. The visual impact and the listening experience change with every step.
Room-high lamellas create the effect of the shimmering surface of the seabed while crystalline sea creatures appear as the visitor is continually drawn into the atmosphere. Just like the expressionist art movement, the exhilarating colour unites the deep sea with the encrypted geometry of the crystal. Pulsating light effects and sounds of the underwater fauna perfects the illusion of mysterious currents leading the visitor into an unknown world.
55 Million Crystals by Brian Eno – the fleetingness of art
“I would like to create a place that feels like music,” Brian Eno said about his installation. For Brian Eno, in the age of high resolution monitors and powerful computers, the artistic original is no longer connected to a static physical object. Instead he perceives a unique artwork in every passing moment. 55 Million Crystals by Brian Eno shows the huge number of possibilities that develop if hand-painted pictures from former times are occasionally superimposed using computer technology. Eno said: “This work is positioned somewhere between a painting, which never moves or changes its place, and music, the characteristic of which is constant change. I see my work as music for the eyes, as a painting of its age, as an experience of the fourth dimension.” Set in front of a background depicting an old English salon, the monitor and the computer experiences are a new artistic interpretation and become the driving force of a creative process.
Reflections - kaleidoscope of picture and sound
As soon as the visitor enters the thirteenth Chamber of Wonder, he is caught up in a sheer vortex of knowledge. The entire world of crystals is documented on the single facet of 48 polygons in pictures, graphics, illustrations and animations: its origin, fascination and its significance for science. Sound images underline the visual impressions. The highlight is a spiritual place of intense experience in the middle of the spiral, which features mystical sides of iridescent materials. The visitor moves in a spiral, passing a whole world of different perspectives. An alternating microcosm and macrocosm leaves the visitor with the knowledge that the earthly order is a result of the unique integration of all things complementary.
The Crystal Forest – synthesis of nature and technology
Fire, water and crystal: the way through the Crystal Forest of Fabrizio Plessi is characterized by an encounter with the basic elements. Every tree has an artificial core in the form of a video installation. Technology therefore rests embedded in nature. There is a new interpretation of life as the vision of the visitor is drawn into the scene by the constant flickering, sparkling and oscillation, which unfolds behind a brittle veil.
Since the transformation, the installation is surrounded by a colourful light sculpture, the Leviathan (a siphonophore) of Thomas Feuerstein that glitters in all of its facets.
Timeless Swarovski – tradition has many faces
The success story of Swarovski is, above all, one about people who show sufficient courage and creativity to transform visionary ideas into action. This exhibition room, which simultaneously forms the start of the transition onto the Crystal Stage, is therefore dedicated to the members of the Swarovski family and to well-known personalities who are closely associated with the company. Twelve film sequences
and exhibits such as jewellery, artefacts, and everyday objects serve to illustrate the fascinating image of the brand Swarovski.
