Mom & Dad

Text: Claudia Holzinger, Photos: Claudia Holzinger

Mom in the tub

My father lived and worked in the basement. My mother was the mistress of the upstairs in our house in Buchbach in Upper Bavaria. As far back as I can remember, choosing a gift for my dad at Christmas or for his birthday always started with the question: "Does he already own the latest FC Bayern Munich fan outfit?"

The Undertaker

Text: Antje Mayer-Salvi, Fotos: Anja Kundrat

Erich Traxler works at the Funeral Museum of Vienna’s famous Central Cemetery. Before he was a coffin bearer and later an arranger at the funeral parlor. Even though his métier is death, he has remained a person with a sense of humor. A conversation about selfie coffins, decomposition, and the question of who we are when we are dead. 

Mr. Kronthaler

Self portrait in pink underwear

The roots of fashion designer Andreas Kronthaler, husband of Vivienne Westwood, are in the Tyrolean Zillertal valley. We could have asked him what it was like to have tea with Prince Charles. But we didn’t. Instead, we had a chat about his grandmother’s blueberry patties and the fur coats of his old aunt in Graz. This interview was written in the summer of 2022; Vivienne Westwood has since passed away. We have not changed it and have left it as it was held. We send our heartfelt condolences to the Westwood and Kronthaler family. 

Text: Antje Mayer-Salvi, Fotos: Andreas Kronthaler

Things we love…

BIS EINER WEINT – until someone cries


BIBIZA's second album is shaking up the Viennese Schickeria. After EXCESS, party and glamour, we now get a look behind the façade, which leads to the question: How much longer can this go on? Well, until someone cries ... We love the mix of VIENNESE SCHMÄH and deepness! Stream the 21 brand new tracks here. (Cover photo: © Marko Mestrovic)

NICE AUNTIES


Ready for ASIAN AUNTIE POWER? The artist niceaunties from SINGAPORE transforms her chaotic childhood between quirky aunts and strong women into surreal art. Her bizarre AI creations explore themes such as age, beauty and personal freedom - SUSHI-LEGS included. For those too far away from her exhibitions in Milan, LA and Basel, you can also admire her artworks on INSTAGRAM and her WEBSITE. We <3 it! (Photo: © niceaunties)

PIGSTY!


In 2017, Chinese photographer Feng Li stumbled across an abandoned BABY PIG at the airport and thought to himself: “Why not?” The animal has since become an integral part of the family and goes by the name PIGGY FENG. Feng Li documented the CRAZY FAMILY GROWTH photographically and summarized it in his book PIG. 
Purchase this one-of-a-kind project here!

Nostalgia reloaded ...


We love this freaky INDEPENDENT ART MAGAZINE from BERLIN, whose editors Jacopo Borrini and Marius Thielmann are driven by a great LOVE OF ART. You can expect real discoveries, fine design and beautiful giveaways such as STICKERS. Big time! Really big! (Photo: © Stuck Magazine)

THE WILD DEAL


Stay wild at heart! We put our new print issue THE ANIMAL ISSUE #7, a piss poster and beautiful stickers in our chic BE WILD bag for you. And all for just 35 instead of 48 euros. So cool, you can't help but NEIGH . Buy here!  

BETEIGEUZE


Born in Eisenstadt, BARBARA ZEMAN (*1981) is the shooting star of the Austrian LITERATURE scene. Finally, she has written a new book. In BETEIGEUZED, a GIANT STAR and a mental illness play the main roles. Her colleague Clemens J. Setz and ourselves are thrilled: “Oh dear, Barbara Zeman can write sentences that make your head spin.”

The Soap&Skin

The musician Anja Plaschg, known as Soap & Skin

"When I was a child, I toyed with dirt. I killed the slugs, I bored with a bough in their spiracle.” For almost 15 years, the exceptional Austrian artist SOAP&SKIN has been singing about death and pain, about nature and healing. Her voice pierces into us and cuts off our air, only to let us breathe better afterwards. The lyrics to Spiracle read differently when you know that 30-year-old Anja Plaschg grew up on a pig-fattening farm in a Styrian village with 200 inhabitants. A conversation about sugar-cube witches, talking trees, and how impressive and depressing rural life can be.

Text: Eva Holzinger, Fotos: Xenia Snapiro, Styling: Sarah Zalud-Bzoch

Dirndl & Braid

Text: Antje Mayer-Salvi, Fotos: Vrinda Jelinek, Produktion: Nicole Adler, Stylist: Ilija Milicić, Hair Stylist: Nieves Elorduy, Models: Joya A., Helena (both Stella Models), Vova, Ewelina, Annie (Das Deck), Studio: Roland Unger

The Nun

Text: David Meran

Kirchberg Monastery in Lower Austria may date from centuries past, but not so the nuns who live within its thick walls. We recently spent a few days with them, observing the strict prayer times and enjoying homemade blueberry strudel. In these difficult times, we sought advice from someone who really ought to know: Nun and psychotherapist Teresa Hieslmayr. Who does the virus serve? What gives life meaning? How evil is consumerism?  

The Astrophysicist

We humans are nothing but stardust and, like the Earth, we like to spin in circles. What does a roundabout have in common with the universe and why is the Milky Way provincial? We spoke with the German astrophysicist, FAZ editor, and philosopher Sibylle Anderl.  

Text: David Meran, Fotos: Katrin Binner, Josef Köröcz, Tobias Meran

The Kitsch

Text: Paula Pankarter, Artwork: Ernst Miesgang   

The Beauty of Evil

Text: Lisa Peres, Antje Mayer-Salvi, Fotos: Heide-Marie Mayer, Lisa Peres, Sammlung: Wolfgang Mayer

Flight Suit

Wars are hideous. As long as they continue to exist, people will kill, die, flee, starve, and suffer. People, animals, nature, and cultures will be destroyed. Societies will remain traumatized for generations. The arms industry is perpetually developing more sophisticated ways to kill, as well as more creative ways to survive. Seductively beautiful though it is, design for combat also exudes all the horror of war.

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