The golden figures were part of an installation by German artist Ottmar Hörl marking the 270th anniversary of Mozart’s birth.
A public art installation celebrating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in his native Salzburg has been brought to an early end after 210 of the 230 sculptures displayed in the Mirabell Gardens disappeared.
The installation, Mozart – The Untamable Genius, was created by German conceptual artist Ottmar Hörl in collaboration with the International Mozarteum Foundation and opened on 15 July as part of celebrations marking the 270th anniversary of the composer’s birth.
Only 20 of the original 230 figures in the Mirabell Gardens remained. Those sculptures were subsequently removed at the artist’s request, bringing that part of the project to an end more than two weeks ahead of schedule.
An installation spread across Salzburg
Around 320 gold-coloured figures, made from weather-resistant synthetic material and standing approximately 50 centimetres high, were originally placed at several locations around Salzburg. In addition to the 230 sculptures in the Mirabell Gardens, figures were installed in the Mozarteum garden and at the Mozart Residence.
The sculpture presents Mozart alongside Pimperl, the Mozart family’s dog, with one hand resting on the animal’s head. Hörl conceived the work as an alternative to the traditional image of Mozart as an untouchable musical genius, placing greater emphasis on the composer’s everyday, human side.
The installation was also intended to bring art outside conventional museum spaces and allow visitors to interact directly with it.
From disappearances to suspected theft
The figures began disappearing shortly after the project opened. More than 80 had already vanished within the first two weeks, according to the Associated Press, with the total eventually reaching 210.
Hörl told the German news agency dpa that he believed the scale of the incident suggested “organised theft” rather than individual visitors simply taking the sculptures as souvenirs.
Replacement figures had been kept in reserve, but not in sufficient numbers to compensate for the losses. The manufacturer was also closed for its summer holiday, making it impossible to produce additional sculptures at short notice.
Other Mozart figures remain on display
Although the Mirabell Gardens installation has ended, other parts of Mozart – The Untamable Genius are continuing in Salzburg.
According to the Mozarteum Foundation, 50 figures remain in the Mozarteum garden and another 40 at the Mozart Residence, including the Tanzmeistersaal and the Magic Flute House. The project was originally scheduled to run until 30 August.
Hörl is known for large-scale installations consisting of repeated figures of historical and cultural personalities. His previous projects have featured figures including Beethoven, Einstein, Goethe, Dürer and Richard Wagner. In 2024, he presented a similar installation of golden Wagner sculptures at the Bayreuth Festival.
Subscribe to our newsletter