Daniel Ferstl – A conceptual pop culture analyst
Emerging Artist Series (Vienna)
Where: Wonnerth Dejaco, Vienna, AT
When: May 3- June 22, 2024
Reviewed by: Hilary Tsui
Daniel Ferstl’s work is easily recognizable. His “textile painting” looks playful, carries lots of pop culture references, with different cartoony protagonists, mainly doggies, teddies, flowers and plants taking center stage. Each of which is carefully chosen and arranged, then being sewed in a painterly manner by the artist to tell encapsulated stories.
At first glance, Daniel’s work could easily come across as “pop”, or intentionally “low brow”. It is heart-warmingly cute, can disarm you immediately and make you drop your guard. It is almost like the artist has made an extreme effort to disassociate the works from any intellectual connotations that fine art usually conveys.
Yet, the easy aesthetic is only a bait that the artist threw at us to get our attention. Once you start looking more intently, you would notice there is something heavier behind the cuteness, something polar opposite that the aesthetic suggests - be it a plethora of societal critique, real world problems, and some difficult emotions, including those from the artist.
Solo Show: For you - !Kneedeepinthehoopla
Thematically, Daniel’s work generally reflects on human conditions, namely our positive and negative qualities, the psychological elements, and various social phenomena of our times.
In his new solo show, “For you - !Kneedeepinthehoopla”, as the title has already provided some hints, he dived into the different frantic and problematic social media phenomena that warrant our urgent attention. He dissected some absurd phenomena and presented them in bite-size fabric platter. Thanks to the use of fluffy bolstered fabrics, soothing colors and super cute images, we are actually being presented some rather serious societal and humanity problems in the gentlest way.
The works “Prime Hydration”, “Stanley Cup”, “Takis” and “Eras” all shed light on the negative impacts that social media has on young people. Based on real life examples, the artist reflects on how frantic hype of certain products was created in the unregulated social media space by self-proclaimed influencers and greedy businesses in order to capitalize on young people.
“Posh Doggo Sekeleton” & “Armageddon” touch on more sobering topic of life and death. Whereas .the former piece clearly and poignantly reminds us about the finite nature of human life, and that wealth and fame don’t matter in the face of death, “Armageddon” portrays in a light-hearted manner, the uncertain destiny of the mankind, with the doggie hopped on the comet which is about to hit the earth. “Passive Progressive” is a playful reference to works by blue-chip artists, using fabrics that are reminiscent of Gerhard Richter and Sigmar Polke’s signatures.
About the Artist
Daniel Ferstl studied painting in the University of Applied Arts Vienna, and has exhibited widely in Europe since 2009. He had produced traditional canvases, works on paper, installations, and experimented with different materials, before turning solely to textiles as his media. His approach to art-making and his aesthetic choice can be traced back to his discontent with the elitist nature of the art world, and his desire to revive the artist role in the society as a mediator and an entertainer. (HT)
For You – !kneedeepinthehoopla, Daniel Ferstl, installation view, Wonnerth Dejaco, Vienna 2024. © the artist and Wonnerth Dejaco. Photo: Peter Mochi
Daniel Ferstl. Armageddon, 2024.
Fleece, loden, upholstery foam, yarn, cotton, 12v motor, canvas, wood. 164 x 129 x 5.5 cm
© the artist and Wonnerth Dejaco. Photo: Peter Mochi
Daniel Ferstl. Passive Progressive, 2024.
Synth fiber cloth, upholstery foam, yarn, satin, 12v motor, canvas, wood. 164 x 129.5 x 6 cm
© the artist and Wonnerth Dejaco. Photo: Peter Mochi
Daniel Ferstl. Posh Doggo Skeleton, 2024.
Fleece, letherette, loden, satin, cotton, 12v motor, upholstery foam, yarn, wood, canvas, 164 x 129 x 5,5 cm, © the artist and Wonnerth Dejaco, photo: Peter Mochi
Daniel Ferstl. Penanggalan, 2024.
Fleece, sequins, satin, cotton, yarn, upholstery foam, 12 v motors, canvas, wood. 164 x 129 x 5.5 cm
© the artist and Wonnerth Dejaco. Photo: Peter Mochi
Daniel Ferstl. Just because you feel good doesn’t make it right, 2024.
Flannell, fleece, padded synth cloth, polyester, satin, cotton, zipper, 12v motor, canvas wood. 166 x 130.5 x 8 cm.
© the artist and Wonnerth Dejaco. Photo: Peter Mochi
