Cemetery
Five mysterious figures in a row, glowing eerily in the dark black of the night. They wear long robes, each with a hood that conceals their entire face. Who or what are you looking at? No matter how long you stand there or how often you walk around them, it remains unclear. It is one great magical mystery: meet the Guardians of Time!
This is the most famous work by Austrian artist Manfred Kielnhofer. Sometimes the figures stand in a circle; other times they line up one after another. It seems as though they are performing a ritual, slowly and with great care. These guardians symbolize the protectors that have always existed—whether in the form of a god, a king, an army, or, in everyday life, a mother or a friend. Paradoxically, it seems that only humanity itself is a threat to its own existence.
Kielnhofer’s work invites reflection. To pause and think, just as the figures before you seem to do. Look, walk around, and let your thoughts wander. In this setting—a cemetery—the work takes on even deeper meaning. What does it evoke in you?
About the artist
Manfred Kielnhofer (born 1967) comes from Haslach an der Mühl, Austria. He is self-taught and works across different media, including painting, film, photography, installations, performance, and sculpture. His work usually centers on the human figure and its various forms and movements, with a focus on the peculiarities of human nature. He uses the human form as an instrument, both on canvas and in sculpture.
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