"Art needs freedom. Yet this freedom must not be abused to violate limits and hurt others." Karl Hiess

WELCOME TO MY HOMEPAGE!

"This chap produces things that nobody can imagine really!",
Kurt Lentsch, Mayor of Neusiedl am See and member of central government of Burgenland, during the opening of a Hiess-exhibition presenting scuptures made of scrap-metal.

Following. Soon.

Is he singing? Or is he not sinking? - This question cannot be answered easily. Nevertheless it is not just a rumour: Karl Hiess is in preparation of a CD-production with Schubert songs.

World. Record. Number 1: Karl Hiess beats Jeff Koons.

The biggest flower- cellular- phone in the world!

17 meters high, it weighs approx. 10 tons and is shaped following the Motorola Timeport P7389. It was unveiled in the spa of Lutzmannsburg (in the middle of the Burgenland) on June 22, 2000. Karl Hiess needed nearly 9 weeks to produce this flower- sculpture in the form of a giant cellular phone. In the meantime a concrete-foundation was installed. A crane erected the sculpture containing flowers with almost 30.000 blossoms. This event is documented in the Guiness Book of Records. With it the artist from the Burgenland outdoes the world famous US artist Jeff Koons, whose cellular phone sculpture measures merely 12,3 meters.

Karl Hiess would like to thank his sponsors Mobilkom Austria, Motorola and Alpine Energy.

World. Record. Number 2: The horse made of 1.300 horseshoes.

The sculpture made by Karl Hiess found its way into the Guiness Book of Records and can be seen in the village of Mannersdorf in the middle of the Burgenland.

Bio. Graphy.

The self-made-man in constant search of new challenges.

Training in educational theory with Vera Birkenbihl.
Education in arts on self-made-man basis.
Intensive contacts with outstanding painters like Gottfried Kumpf, sculptors like Wander Bertoni and Rudolf Moratti as well as with many actionist artists (see photograph).

First works of art - metal sculptures - in 1977.
From 1999 "freelance artist" , testified by a diploma of the office of the Prime Minister.

Constant individual as well as group exhibitions with recycling-sculptures and pictures.
Training and workshops with handicapped youths.
Adult education in the field of technical and commercial aspects.
.... Assistance in shooting films.
Design and manufacturing of scrap- and recycling furniture.
Direction and production of fireworks and respective shows.
2000 - Entries (!!!) in the Guiness Book of Records.

Hobbies:
Filming and shooting pictures.

Presentations. Neutal to Costa Rica.

Karl Hiess has been showing his sculptures and pictures in individual as well as collective exhibitions since 1977, f.e. at Mörbisch, Kirchschlag in der Buckligen Welt, Vienna, Costa Rica, Großwarasdorf, Deutschkreutz, Mödling, Markt St. Martin, Neutal, Schlaining, Baden, Oberpullendorf, Ramsau, Oberwart, St. Anton am Arlberg, Eisenstadt and Neusiedl am See.

Special. Sculptures.

" Death is certain, its hour is uncertain."

Sculpture on the wall of Güssing Grammar School commemorating the 4 pupils killed in the terrible cable-railway-accident of Kaprun in 2000. Idea and production: Karl Hiess.

The brazen cross-country-skier. 1999, Ramsau, Nordic Skiing World Championship.

Oscar for Economy. Chamber of Commerce, Burgenland.

Metal-sculptures by Karl Hiess and creations in scrap by patients of the Grüner Kreis, Mödling, Bundessportzentrum Südstadt - produced during the workshop "Art and therapy."

Giant-Flower-Cellular Phone at Lutzmannsburg (Guiness Book of Records).

Giant sculpture "Horse made of horseshoes" at Mannersdorf (Guiness Book of Records).

Media. Echoes.

"It's not enough to do something! You also must communicate the process as well as the success of creation!" Karl Hiess is following this principle in 3 aspects: 1. He takes pains to organize frequent exhibitions. 2. His openings are a focus point for followers as well as rubberneckers. 3. The media take keen interest in Hiess' productions.

Critics. Opinions.

"Where words can cause irritation sometimes, the artistic work of Karl Hiess is able to address problems without confrontation. It is up to the viewer to realize, to project - or to remain aloof." , Prof. August Breininger, member of central government Lower Austria.

"The message of a piece of art should always be an incentive for thoughts. Critical ideas on power, aggression, justice, social structures, materialism and natural resources are challenged", claims gallery-owner Ingeborg Zweymüller with a view of Hiess' philosophy on art (during the opening of the exhibition "Eiserne Gedanken" at Baden, 2000).

"Karl Hiess is a visionary." Oberwarter Zeitung, June 2000.

"A sculptor, who has elevated the manifold options to recycle unusable metal parts to an outstanding and creative way of artistic production", Leo Willner, Badener Rundschau.

"Many regard art as solid handicraft, some also to draw special attention to their own personalities, others to convey messages of their beliefs as well as their (often even political) convictions. Whether a so called piece of art is able to inspire other people inside can be the result of many circumstances, of which not a single one must be taken as granted ...", Günter Unger in his book on artists of the Burgenland "Die Atmosphäre der Poesie", in which Karl Hiess is appreciated as an artist and creator.

"Art made of metal-scrap should make people think about the natural environment", Oberwarter Zeitung.

"According to his nature, he will always be where things really happen. As he is well known everywhere, he uses the chance to be present even at public events ... . Thereby he never forgets, that there will always be different social classes (f.e. drug addicts or handicapped).", Johann Tomsich, Burgenland Mitte.

Hiess. Word. By. Word.

"I always see things in context. That is my secret.", KH.

"Art is derived from skills". This is KH's creed.

Apropos.

Karl Hiess has been present in the media since his early days. An old photograph in the Badener Zeitung shows how he is awarded in a culinary contest. The title of it reads, "The winner came from Austria". Karl Hiess had unanimously won a two-lapped pancake-cooking of international calibre at the Hotel Esplanade Baden in a competition with a German and a Swiss youngster.

Recycling. Artist.

Scrap. Refiner.

Sculptures of metal-scrap are setting the trend. Internationally as well as in Austria. Karl Hiess is contributing very much to this. He creates new forms from things which other ones lay aside or throw away. He creates inspiring works of art or objects for day to day use. Sculptures which are created to inspire thinking while viewed. "One has to destroy the old to create the new!", Christa Prets, former member of the Burgenland central government.

Colour. Composition.

Take off. Your hat.

"It's better to wear straw on your head than being empty-headed."

Karl Hiess is fascinated by this idea and therefore he created straw sculptures in the summer of 1999. He designed and manufactured the metal-frames for two giant heads, cut the straw required with a scythe and shaped two impressive faces in straw - all on his own. Years after, the objects are still standing - like watchmen in the countryside - nearby the road between Großwarasdorf and Oberpullendorf.

Fire. Phenomenon.

"There is nothing more fascinating than a well done fireworks!"

The latest creation by Karl Hiess is a spectacular event with a shower of sparks. He learned that trade from Peter Frank, the international fireworks-artist from Neusiedl am See. Today he designs fireworks according to the wishes of organizers as well as of private persons. His slogan is, "A fireworks is like a bunch of flowers: everybody likes another composition, colour or cluster. Yet a minimum of individual blossoms is necessary to create impression". Creativity and the power of expression have no limits. Great finale of the Franz-Liszt-orchestra-concert at Raiding on June 30, 2001: Karl Hiess' impressive fireworks above the birthplace of the great composer.

Fireworks activities in 2001:

Opening gala at Museumsquartier, Vienna
Vernissage-finale at KUGA, Großwarasdorf
Jazz festival, Wiesen
Liszt-Open-Air, Raiding
ORF-Landesstudio Burgenland

Con. Tact.

Every creative person is grateful for reactions, constructive criticism and extraordinary remarks. - Just send a mail!

Should you wish to learn more about the artist and his creations, or want to be informed in detail about the presentations - send a mail!

mail to Karl Hiess

Im. Pressum.

Karl Hiess
Am Nußfeld 18
A-7343 Neutal

++43(0) 2618 3801
++43(0) 664 50 39 637

mail: info@hiess.at

webmaster: homepageprofi.at
Christian Tesch, Gartengasse 4, 7321 Raiding,
++43(0) 2619 7550

English translation:
Mag. Rudolf Ferscha
rufer@netway.at