A unique sculpture park featuring wooden art installations has received a fascinating new addition that promises to transform how visitors see the world around them. The Gasser Sculpture Park in Ludmannsdorf/Bilčovs, Austria, has unveiled "Alfred," an interactive sculpture created by artist Stephanie Klaura that offers viewers kaleidoscopic perspectives through specially designed windows.

The sculpture park, located at the Holzbau Gasser company premises, has been growing for decades as a private art collection that remains freely accessible to the public. The park showcases works by renowned artists including Manfred Bockelmann, Valentin Omann, Gustav Januš, and Werner Hofmeister, with all pieces crafted in the Gasser workshop using wood as the primary medium.

"Alfred" represents a particularly innovative addition to the collection, designed in the form of a sketched turtle with kaleidoscopic windows built into its legs. Artist Stephanie Klaura explains that the sculpture draws inspiration from childhood memories of simple kaleidoscope toys. "Everyone knows those little toy kaleidoscopes where you look through and nature, the environment, is simply reflected," Klaura said. "Alfred is nothing different, and it offers you self-reflection as a reflection of your surroundings."

The interactive nature of the sculpture allows visitors to stand beneath Alfred and peer through the kaleidoscopic windows, which create fascinating and ever-changing views of the surrounding landscape. The installation literally has depth and complexity, as visitors can experience highly interesting perspectives on the world through these specially crafted viewing portals.

The sculpture park began thirty years ago as the vision of Ingrid Gasser, who initiated the art collection featuring objects created in the family workshop. Now, she is passing the responsibility to her daughter-in-law, Claudia Gasser, who has ambitious plans for expanding the park's offerings. "We will perhaps expand the program somewhat, maybe musically or bring other events," Claudia Gasser explained. "That will certainly continue in some exciting form."

The unveiling of Alfred was celebrated with a major festival at the sculpture park, drawing visitors who were eager to experience the new installation firsthand. The sculpture park continues to serve as a bridge between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artistic expression, with the Gasser workshop's skilled artisans bringing various artists' visions to life in wood. Under new leadership, the park aims to attract younger artists and diversify its programming to include musical performances and other cultural events, ensuring its continued evolution as a dynamic cultural destination.