Groundkeeper and Nun
Art on the building

2012. Haus der Natur in Salzburg.

Sweet Redeemer
Jesus for Everyone!

4th of October 2008. Long Museum Night. Gallery in the Traklhaus.
Erich Gruber started a sweet temptation for the exhibition in the context of the nominations for the “Great Art Prize 2008”.
He casts hot chocolate into his Jesus and comic skull forms.  The figures are carefully packed in cellophane and given as presents to visitors to the exhibition.

“The chocolate Christ created by Erich Gruber wants to be consumed in the very sense of the word.  Passion as confection. “  (Dr. Anton Gugg 2008)

> Exhibition Traklhaus

Among the People!
Small Seeds for Children going to Communion

May 2006.  Itzling Parish Church.
An extravagantly designed little book full of surprises.  Instructions on how to make things, passages from the Bible, sacred alongside the secular.

“The observer of his works becomes the discoverer of many stories, and of one’s own memories.  Memories of the first time one took communion, memories of my own grandfather, who used to sit at the corner of the table under the crucifix, playing the accordion, and of his sister who collected pictures of saints and figures of angels in her house, and whom I only ever saw with her hair combed back severely and wearing a high-necked white blouse… Countless reminiscences well up, and Gruber’s motifs, which he carefully positions at the centre of attention, become bearers of recollection.  Gruber’s pictures are an invitation for more than merely a fleeting glance, thank goodness, which brings us to one of his central themes.“ (Carolin Walker 2008)

Praying Women
Art on the building

2001 District Office of St. Johann im Pongau. Main staircase, 3rd floor.
The realisation was preceded by a competition with 28 candidates.  For Erich Gruber it was important to maintain the spatial impact of the large areas of glass, reflective floors and narrow supports, and the free view of the landscape.  His work merges with the building without destroying the floating effect of the staircase.  He chose the material, colour and surface in such a way that the “Praying Women” in their shades of grey participate in the play of light and shade.  The graffito emphasises the massiveness of the wall, the horizontal arrangement is in contrast to the many vertical elements.

At first glance the work appears sober, rather like a sample.  When the motif is recognised the observer joins in behind the row of praying women, the direction of the gaze is the same.

> Kunst am Bau