Finalist, ARTiges Art Prize 2023

Having grown up in a relatively carefree time shaped by economic growth and stability, Marianne Hirschbichler long experienced the world as a place of safety — for herself, her family and the environment around her. In recent years, however, global developments have brought suffering on a scale few could have imagined: physical, emotional and economic hardship, displacement, war, and both external and inner chaos.

This work reflects the fragile space between loss and hope. It speaks of vulnerability, uncertainty and the human longing for peace, while also holding on to the quiet strength of looking forward. What remains is hope — and the ability to find meaning and joy in the small things of life.