Antony Gormley points to new horizons in Austria

The British artist sprawls 100 iron figures across a 150 square kilometer area of the Vorarlberg Alps, until 2012. 

Bregenz, 08/03/10

Antony Gormley continues to plant his anonymous figures in cities and fields. In Horizon Field, his latest, and also the most ambitious, project the British artist will sprawl 100 iron cast figures in the Austrian Alps, covering 150 square kilometres of Vorarlberg Mountains.

 Gormley’s project in the Alpes, organized jointly with the Kunsthaus Bregenz, represents the culmination of a series of projects during which his sculptures visited numerous cities around the world.

Some of them have not left New York skyscrapers and avenues yet (they will do so on August 15), but the new silent figures by the British author have found a place from where to contemplate the horizon: the mountains of Mellau, Warth and Lech. 

From now on, the tourists who travel to Austria to enjoy the landscape, good summer weather and fresh air will come across a surprise. After climbing 2000 metres and reaching the top of the mountain they will stumble upon Gormley’s figures, planted in the middle of the mountain, implying that others have already managed to reach the summit.

The immediate question seems logical: “What is this doing here?” And that is precisely what the British artist seeks with his works – to provoke reflection. Horizon Field enquires where the human project fits within the evolution of the life on the planet. According to Gormley’s own words, “this installation recognizes the link between the landscape and the memory” aside from presenting existential doubts on who we are and where we come from.

The British artist returns to Austria 17 years after his first exhibition in this country with this project which will be the last one in which experiments with nature.

His figures, cast from the artist’s own body, will stay in the Alps for two years, challenging the elements. Thus, hikers, mountain climbers and skiers will participate in the project searching for new horizons together with nude and hieratic beings. Sol G. Moreno

  • Antony Gormley. Horizon Field, August 2010 - April 2012. Installation in a landscape of the Voralberg Alps, Austria. Work presented by Kunsthaus Bregenz. 100 iron cast human figures sprawled in an area of 150 square kilometers.(detail). © Antony Gormley and Kunsthaus Bregenz. Photograph: Markus Tretter.

  • Antony Gormley. Horizon Field, August 2010 - April 2012. Installation in a landscape of the Voralberg Alps, Austria. Work presented by Kunsthaus Bregenz. 100 iron cast human figures sprawled in an area of 150 square kilometers.(detail). © Antony Gormley and Kunsthaus Bregenz. Photograph: Markus Tretter.

  • Antony Gormley. Horizon Field, August 2010 - April 2012. Installation in a landscape of the Voralberg Alps, Austria. Work presented by Kunsthaus Bregenz. 100 iron cast human figures sprawled in an area of 150 square kilometers.(detail). © Antony Gormley and Kunsthaus Bregenz. Photograph: Markus Tretter.

  • Image of a helicopter placing one of Antony Gormley's figures in the Voralberg Alpes. Site: Warth, Schröcken Saleberkopf. © Antony Gormley and Kunsthaus Bregenz. Photograph: Markus Tretter.

  • Antony Gormley. Horizon Field, August 2010 - April 2012. Installation in a landscape of the Voralberg Alps, Austria. Work presented by Kunsthaus Bregenz. 100 iron cast human figures sprawled in an area of 150 square kilometers.(detail). © Antony Gormley and Kunsthaus Bregenz. Photograph: Markus Tretter.

  • Antony Gormley. Horizon Field, August 2010 - April 2012. Installation in a landscape of the Voralberg Alps, Austria. Work presented by Kunsthaus Bregenz. 100 iron cast human figures sprawled in an area of 150 square kilometers.(detail). © Antony Gormley and Kunsthaus Bregenz. Photograph: Markus Tretter.

Antony Gormley. Horizon Field, August 2010 - April 2012. Installation in a landscape of the Voralberg Alps, Austria. Work presented by Kunsthaus Bregenz. 100 iron cast human figures sprawled in an area of 150 square kilometers.(detail). © Antony Gormley and Kunsthaus Bregenz. Photograph: Markus Tretter.