Into the light. Herman Staudinger

Hermann Staudinger was born and raised in Schwanenstadt, Austria, and currently lives in Vienna. From an early age, he developed a deep passion for artistic expression. After graduating from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Staudinger focused on the theme of “gold” in its many forms. His works have been exhibited in numerous shows and are included in both public and private collections worldwide. In his practice, Staudinger explores the “land of golden light” through original techniques.

“Gold embossing is a technique I developed myself. Initially, large reproductions of newspaper photographs were placed on gold-plated softwood surfaces. Over time, I began using only photographs I had taken. The black dots and stencil areas are traced onto the gilded surfaces with pencil pressure; the pencil slightly dents the gold layer, and in that indentation—after removing the stencil—the reflected light refracts. The resulting optical illusions become visible from specific angles to the light and shift with the viewer’s position. When light hits the surface in such a way that it shimmers, the gold opens up into a deep space, the images seem to emit active light, and the motif appears with full clarity. Creating these embossings is an extremely meticulous and time-consuming process—each piece can take up to two months to complete.”