Waste Yourselves!

Waste Yourselves

In Ischgl the ski tourists throw corona parties against a backdrop of ruined mountainscapes, the oceans are rising higher and higher, the virus is spreading unstoppably, everyone is isolated, and Greta is crying. In a world of overabundance, where out-of-control consumerism is destroying our environment and our health, wastefulness has gotten a bad reputation: Marie Kondō’s clean-up crew, minimalism, self-optimization, and a new sententiousness have declared war on profligacy. But don’t we humans need overindulgence to be happy, the camaraderie of celebration and ritual excess? We asked six remarkable personalities about the role of wastefulness in their lives.

Text: Lara Ritter, Antje Mayer-Salvi, Photos: Rafaela Pröll, Makeup artist: Nico Pessl-Jaritz, Stylist: Simon Winkelmüller

Photography Art

Bodysuit: Marine Serre, High Heels: Alexander Wang via Liska

Lara Tasharofi

"Everything I gain from working out is a waste, because it will eventually disappear. But until then, I’m my own masterpiece.”

Lara Tasharofi is Austria’s coolest bodybuilder and muscle woman, a personal trainer, Chihuahua owner, and occasional glutton.

Bodysuit: Stylist's Own, Boots: Giuseppe Zanotti via Popp & Kretschmer

Antonio-Pedro Müller

“Waste is pleasure! Taking pleasure in exaggeration, in opulence, in baroque luxury. This pleasure is extremely important in fashion—without it there would be no accessories, no mountains of fabric, no haute couture."

Antonio-Pedro Müller is probably Vienna’s hippest model agent, head of the agency “Flair Modelmanagement” & fashion expert.

Leather jacket: Juunj, Boots: Dries Van Noten, Sunglasses: Ray-Ban, Bag: Kali, Location: Café Meierei Volksgarten

Rudolf Valenta

“Sometimes I find myself still feeling guilty for devoting time to interesting people, art, nature, and sports instead of constantly working on my scientific projects in the lab. But at this point I’ve learned that this supposedly ‘wasted time’ is a source of my creative power.”

Rudolf Valenta is an award-winning scientist, virologist, leading allergy researcher, inventor of a vaccine for the common cold, corona vaccine researcher, and usually more of a lab coat wearer.

Coat: Sean Suen, Pants: Marni, Boots: Givenchy

Rafaela Pröll

"Waste is everything that goes beyond the existential: it is the time we devote to beauty.”

Rafaela Proell is a photographer, lives in Vienna, and works for well-known international labels and magazines. She had the idea for this photo series, with which she wanted to waste her time and creativity. When she is not taking pictures, she takes walks or goes horseback riding.

Suit: John Lawrence Sullivan, Blouse: Vintage, Shoes: Cos

Marianne Kohn

“Eating animals is a waste. It’s opulent, a useless luxury. People don’t need it. Art, however, is necessary—it leaves its mark in the heart, in the soul."

Marianne Kohn is considered the “Queen of the Vienna Night. She is the manager of Vienna’s famous Loos Bar, the city’s brashest barkeep, Helmut Lang’s former muse, a fashion designer, and collector of Christmas tree decorations. Guests in shorts and flip-flops are barred from her establishment.

Dress: Petar Petrov, Boots: Vetements via Chegini, Headpiece: Francesco Balestrazzi, Sunglasses und jewelry: Marianne's Own

Maria Happel

"Of course, it always depends on what we are wasteful with. I hate stinginess! It has something to do with an inability to let go, being uptight and stiff. Waste in the sense of generosity is open and free, like a winning laugh. When you waste love, it multiplies.”

Maria Happel is a star of the Burgtheater, director of the Max Reinhardt Seminar, plays a forensic scientist on the television series SOKO-Donau, author, organist, and owner of a crucifix collection.

Coat: MSGM, Shirt: Dries Van Noten, Boots: Alexander McQueen via Liska, Veil: original from Maria's wedding

This shoot was published in the print edition #4 “The Wasted Issue”. You can order the magazine in our SHOP.

Mr. Eidinger

Text: Antje Mayer-Salvi, Fotos: Maša Stanić

Who is LARS EIDINGER? Probably the most popular villain of German television, actor, photographer, DJ - together the omnipresent devotion. We talk about bats, evil, SELF-DESTRUCTION and about Eidinger.

Art Photography

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?

Social Thinking