Day 60

The stone wall is back in place! But I have to admit it cost me a lot of nerves today!

I hope the neighbors, who are far away, didn't hear me swear.

Day 59

After finishing some details I realized that the stone front won't last for a long time.

Rather than having a surprise coming to Serdica one day 

I decided to remove it at once and rebuilt it in a more stable way.

Which means I somehow have to anchor it with the stones behind.

I am off to repair the damage! The plan is to finish all for sides today!!!

Sorry Qirin, but the tent had to go!

The stone wall still needs some work, but I am getting there!

Day 58

A wonderful weekend with Ewa, Mathis and Clémentine 

ended with this amazing atmosphere. 

Clearing skies after another heavy cloudburst!

Day 57

There is only one corner missing from the four sides.

The Eastern front ended up having a lot of details,

such as this beautiful glazed tile I found in the attic 7 weeks ago.

Although I already mentioned I might be finished by last Tuesday,

everything took longer than primarily expected.

Still, for the first time today I had the feeling that it's going to be finished soon.

A feeling of inner contentment!

Minor details on all four walls are missing and for the end

I have to work on the top view.

Day 56

I guess today was the last time that I had to show a strenuous effort.

I dismantled the feeding trough.

I started to use the air hammer, but realized immediately that this would take forever.

And I gave it a shot with the good old sledge hammer!

Within an hour the whole thing was gone

and some of it, still linked together would make a nice piece I think.

Returning to the sculpture now and I hope to finish the East side till tonight.

Another found photograph from Serdica which fits todays actions.

Of course it turned out to be different again!

I continued to work on the Western side.

And no! It's not my movie make-up! I guess it's my daily look through all the dust and dirt!

Day 55

Today I have been on my own again, which from time to time is not the worst.

Enough time and silence to think through the next and final steps.

The weather was again fantastic and obviously the entire weekend will be like this.

After another 4 hours of only shoveling I had to unpack my blanket

and take a little nap. In some moments my body really is confused!

Cause I just saw it again.

My friend's Simon V. comment before I started!

Ascending House, Ben Grasso

My reaction: I wish it would be that easy!!!

Day 54

Today I didn't work much on the piece itself.

I have the feeling, that I have to clean up the area around

before I finish the structure.

Day 53

The new openness really becomes the piece!

And I was wise covering the sculpture today.

Only one hour later a heavy cloudburst stopped our work.

Now the sun is out again and I am going back to work for another couple of hours.


And I did, but the weather wasn't really exciting but an experience anyways!

At least I finished my stone wall!

Day 52

Back to approved methods!

The last walls fell today and this created much more space.

Tomorrow we will cut back more plants and then there will be

 a nice view from an on the sculpture.

We is my friends Anneliese, Peter, Max and myself.

A lot of helping hands at the moment!

Day 51

Big smile!!! 

The best way to start a Sunday morning and get energy for the construction site.

Today I was super motivated and I planned on bringing down an additional wall.

Exposed remains from the former stable. 

Yesterday I realized that the sculpture really needs space around.

I just forgot, that I didn't bring the air hammer. It was still at h&m!

So I figured I'll be a little creative.

I gave it a try and miserably failed. My poor car!

Of course the rope burst!

But before I took this detail of the wall. 

I would like to meet this person who assembled it together!

Yesterday I learned a lot about the political history of the region.

During the 2nd world war it was controlled by the Nazis who

tried to annex the region to the German Reich.

It was called Untersteiermark!

All my research will be integrated in the planned publication 

and exhibition displays!

Day 50

It feels like a double anniversary!

Day 50 plus the hillside of the sculpture is finished.

Apple crumble for desert  it is tonight!!!

The solitude at Serdica feels very pleasant.

Some days with almost no talking bring me down to earth again

and I manage to straighten out my thoughts.

Especially on a rainy day like today 

contemplation is on top of my list!

Almost all piles of material are gone.

I am getting closer and closer to place the key stone.

Day 49

I finally saw the damage for myself and as expected it was not too bad.

It took me 3 hours to repair everything and from tomorrow on 

I am going to enter home stretch. I suppose the cube will be finished

 by Tuesday.

... et voilà!

Even better than before.

My friend Gabi came to visit today as well.

I am always happy to have friends over!

And on top she brought me a basket full of tiny apples

from her childhood home.

Finally I can announce the day of presentation of the work!

Ewa, Mathis and I plan to have a wonderful Indian summer party.

Serdica 75

Sept 15th 2012

Please save the date, further details and invitation will follow soon.

All the hard work and the amazing view scream for a big party.

Especially cause there are so many people I want to thank for their support!

Day 47 + 48

I arrived in Tauka / Südburgenland and moved into my 

temporary home for the next 3 weeks.

The wonderful estate from Birgit, Gerhard and Ludwig.

After a week of meetings and a lot of office work in Vienna it's

the perfect place especially for preparing the presentation on Sept 15 

and the planned publication for 'Solitaire'.

... on my way to Serdica to assess the damage on the sculpture for myself.

To me it feels more like a test run. I have to find out what the weather

is capable of anyways and what I need to change that the 

structure bears up against the weather conditions.

The first thing I am going to do, is to dig a drain on the hill side

so that the water coming from the mountain doesn't wash out the basis.

I have to admit, I have a hard time starting again.

My body still feels super tired, even after a one week break.

But considering that it will only take me another week

I suppose I quickly will ease in again.

As an addition today I am posting a letter I wrote to Juljana!

... the English version is coming soon

Liebe Juljana!

Am 1. Juni habe ich begonnen, das Wohnhaus in Serdica 75 abzutragen. 

Das Freilegen und Stück für Stück Abtragen des fast hundert Jahre alten Gebäudes eröffnete mir vage 

Einblicke in deine persönliche Geschichte, die Geschichte dieses Ortes und seiner einstigen Bewohner. 

Die sensible Durchleuchtung der Biographien ist neben meinen politisch-historischen Recherchen zur 

Gegend des heutigen Dreiländer-Naturparks Raab ein sehr wichtiger Teil dieses neuen Projekts 

mit dem vorläufigen Titel „Solitaire“. 

Die Dekonstruktion und Analyse deines seit knapp dreißig Jahren verlassenen Hofes beschreibt die ersten 

Schritte meines Arbeitsprozesses, der inspiriert ist von Otto Friedrich Bollnows Überlegungen zu Raum und 

der von ihm begründeten Raumanthropologie. Das Verhältnis von „Mensch und Raum“ (so auch der Titel seiner 

wichtigsten Publikation aus dem Jahr 1963) bildet die Grundlage meiner künstlerischen Auseinandersetzung 

der letzten Jahre und wird in „Solitaire“ aufs Neue thematisiert, indem deinem einstigen Wohnhaus der Wohnraum 

entzogen und das gesammelte Material auf den ursprünglichen Fundamenten wieder zu einer Skulptur zusammengefügt 

wird. Für eine Jubiläumsausstellung in der Galerie im Andechshof in Innsbruck wurde ich eingeladen, eine Zeitkapsel 

zu befüllen. Die Beigaben dafür sind fünf zu Erde erodierte Tonziegel, die in die gesatzten Lehmwände deines Hauses 

eingearbeitet waren, eine Röntgenaufnahme, eines – deines? – gebrochenen Knochens und dieser Brief.

Teilchen für Teilchen setzt sich für mich dieses Puzzle zusammen und es entsteht ein neues, mit Sicherheit durch 

meinen Blick gefärbtes Bild dieses wundervollen Ortes.

Mit herzlichen Grüßen,

Michael Strasser