My books are hand made collectables. I see them as objects of art. I self-publish and editions are very small. Browse the collection here.
My work is highly personal. Fuelled by family life in Vienna and the feeling that I have lived before. Memories deeply rooted from my grandmother's apartment. I am intrigued by Austria’s folklore, music and fairy tales. Together all of those experiences add to the flavour of my work. Sometimes inspiration comes through sound, colour or the texture of an old piece of paper. I often use experimental printing and add personal words. Now and then I repurpose my photographs to give them new interpretations. Occasionally a story is born out of the discovery of a new process. My subconscious weaves all threads together. My books and prints are about giving those threads a visual voice. I measure the success of my work by how it makes me feel when I look at it. I want to be captured in the same way as I remember it from childhood in Vienna. I hope to bring this across and draw the viewer closer into my world of the ‘Unheimlich’.
I was born and raised in Vienna. From 1988 - 1994 I attended the Vienna Technical College of Photography. Since the mid 90's I have lived and worked in the South of England. I have exhibited in joint shows at Pallant House Gallery, where I was the winner of the in-house exhibition in 2008, and at the Arden and Anstruther Gallery. Nationally, my work has been recognised in the 2010 National Open Art Competition, where I was awarded 1st Prize in the Photographic category. ’Phantom Folk’ is featured in Pan And The Dream Magazine New York publisher of limited edition art, photography and fashion. 2020. The Smithsonian Institution Libraries & Archives bought a copy of ‘Salad Pussy’ in 2022. An edition of ’Bestiola Collectio’ is in the collection of Center For Book Arts, New York and in 2022 the Victoria & Albert Museum acquired two of my prints ‘BREAD’ and ‘Man Approaching Death’ for their museum collection.
© Maria-Aurelia Riese 2024