Natura Naturata

The most extensive part of Marielis Seyler's oeuvre is entitled Natura Naturata, which is especially dedicated to the theme of nature (flora and fauna) - art - humans and includes various series and cycles. Begun in the late 1980s, it is based on analogue photography, which she learned in a profound way at the Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt in Vienna.

Her work is characterized by a special closeness to the respective subjects. This is already conditioned on the one hand through photography (Henry Fox Talbot described photography as the “drawing pencil of nature”) and on the other hand through direct inclusion of various natural elements and natural colours, through which it thematically and aesthetically expands the photography. Even more, by repeatedly exposing her photographs to nature, for example by including weather conditions; she, that is to say nature herself becomes a direct co-creator of the artistic work. It doesn't just tell of her, it is per se an epiphany of nature herself. Thereby a wide arc is also created to the philosophy of romanticism, where discourse was opened about whether nature is the unassailable paragon for art or art is the perfection of nature.

The multi-layered works of Marilies Seyler gently tell of the vulnerability and wounds of nature and the need to protect it. Humans no longer stand above nature, but instead they must once again understand themselves as a part of nature. The artistic confrontation thus becomes a “Königsweg” to nature. Even more, in view of the gigantic anthropocentric destruction of nature and its diversity of flora and fauna, art becomes its dwelling place, a Noah's Ark for nature.

Carl Aigner

All translation by Don Ferguson