II
The Cinematic Scenes

Leon Höllhumer, Triggerwarnung, 2024
Video, 16:9, color, sound
2:30 min.
Crossing from the foyer to the main room, one will see a video projection by Leon Höllhumer. Featuring a new character for Höllhumer, the work bears the title Trigger Warning and acts as an epilogue. A “trigger warning” is an advisory warning about a cultural product, such as a film containing content that is harmful to minors due to violence or pornography. A trigger warning may also be added to content that is potentially re-traumatizing for certain people, for instance the narration of crimes in podcasts or cuss words appearing in music. The character in this video projection, played by Daniel Rajcsanyi, seems to be worn out; the only clothing he wears is a ceramic sign bearing a crossed out “18.”
Thus, this trigger warning is dirty, bearded, traumatized, drinking and smoking non-stop. In the end, he embodies everything he should be warning against and is the opposite of a good example, rather a cautionary tale from a culture of regulation. More precisely, he embodies the fate that lies with forbidden temptations. However, things declared as harmful so often hold a particular attraction, and it is precisely this dilemma that Höllhumer alludes to and plays with again and again in his practice. With this character, Höllhumer offers an ominous hint about the nature of scenes that are to follow in the film.
In the first of the two double projections entitled Madonna (2024), two figures meet. The so-called Madonna of Thorns – a female figure wearing a spiked metal costume depicting a torso with breasts and a helmet with a mask – has a young man on her lap. She is caring for him, although it is not entirely clear whether she is merely tending to the young man’s wounds and physical ailments or if this affection has a more erotic dimension. What is obvious, however, is that the Madonna takes on a dominant, if not governess-like role towards the young man in the scene. In a dance scene that follows, an ambiguous relationship develops between the two.
In addition to the religious connotations of the Madonna figure, the spikes on her costume are a reference to the horror classic Hellraiser (1987) in which the undead Frank casts a spell over Julia. At first, Frank’s body consists only of bones and the most important organs. In order to fully materialize again, he needs blood. By bewitching strange gentlemen and taking them home with her, the manipulated Julia lures more and more male guests to the attic under the premise of an amorous adventure. In the attic, Julia strikes the unsuspecting visitors with a hammer and then lets their blood be sucked dry by Frank. Through the bloody sacrifices, Frank increasingly materializes into a complete human being. On the surface, Julia embodies the unbridled lust of an emancipated woman, but in reality she is under Frank’s control. The figure of Pinhead adorns the now iconic cover of the 1980s cult horror movie and serves as a symbol of the Madonna figure.
In the second double projection entitled Tausendmal berührt – Sensual Teatime with Babsi and Regina (2024), two older women are observed by another figure. The two ladies drink coffee together and exchange innocent touches suggesting that a tender love may develop between them. The coffee party, which is observed by the voyeur to the point of arousal, not only takes a playful look at same-gender love, but also at the persistent social taboo of sexuality in old age. Further scenes show several characters struggling with lust and the external constraints they face. The title is based on the Neue Deutsche Welle hit 1000 und 1 Nacht (Zoom!) by Klaus Lage, which tells the story of an intimate relationship between two old friends, which suddenly develops into a romance, hence changing their relationship completely.
Triggerwarnung, 2024
Video, 16:9, color, sound
2:30 min.
with Philipp Pess as Triggerwarnung and Daniel Rajcsanyi as minor; camera: Leon Höllhumer, Julius Hadertauer and Philipp Pess; makeup: Büsra Arli
Madonna, 2024
Two channel video installation, 16:9, color, sound
4 min.
with Aurelia van Kempen as Madonna, Theo Krausz as young man and Vincent Pongracz on the clarinet; camera: Leon Höllhumer and Philipp Pess
Tausendmal berührt – Sensual Teatime with Babsi and Regina, 2024
Two channel video installation, 16:9, color, sound
8 min.
with Aurelia Kempen as Babsi, Julia Grillmayr as step dancer, Ann Muller as Regina and Mike as observer; camera: Leon Höllhumer and Philipp Pess
Special thanks to:
Annemarie Arzberger, Julia Grillmayr, Madeleine Nostitz, Wiener Rotes Kreuz, Michelle Pagel, Christoph Seewald, Thomas Supper, Elisabeth Windisch