75×135 cm
oil on canvas
The Vienna Parliament House with the Pallas Athene statue is one of the most magnificent and impressive construction at the Wiener Ringstraße. Designed by architect Theophil Hansen, it was built in the Greek-Roman style from 1874 to 1883 . It is a work of art.
Standing in front of the Parliament, the view is dominated by a 5.5m tall statue of Pallas Athene, set up in the midst of a huge fountain.
The sculptor, Carl Kundmann created the statue according to the plans from architect Hansen. He was not able to see the finished statue as Hansen was already died when it was revealed in 1902.
The goddess of wisdom Pallas Athene holds in her right hand a small figure of Nike the goddess of victory and in her left hand a spear. She is surrounded by personification of the legislation (right side) and the execution (left side) of the laws. Directly at the fountain bowl, which consists of granite, the both main rivers of Austria, Donau and Inn, are represented by a female and male figure.
I used Inn's "person" for my painting. His faces moved my imagination, more precisely the expression of longing and desire...
In this painting I replaced the female granite figure, the symbol of Inn, with a flesh-and-blood woman, wanting to connect the past with the present so that it would appear light and free.
The object of Inn’s desire is open to imagination....