The students of class 1C | 2025 from HLW FSB Weiz took part in a two-hour workshop titled “Augmented Reality,” led by Nicole Wogg (Homepage), Kristina Gorke, and Bernd Gutmannsbauer (from the association accomplices – Instagram || Facebook) and I had the biggest honor to bring these awesome people to our school.
The workshop began with a reading circle based on “Der Hungerkünstler” by Franz Kafka. The class discussed the story in relation to social media, exploring themes such as the pursuit of attention and its addictive potential. They also addressed the Japanese term “Hikikomori,” which describes social isolation among young people, while reflecting on both the risks and creative possibilities of technological progress.
Der Verein accomplices wurde 2017 gegründet und präsentiert seither ein umfangreiches Programm, das ein Spektrum von Konzerten, Performances, Artist Talks (unter anderem direkt im Atelier), multi- und intermedialer Ausstellungen, Musik-, Kinder- und Theater für Menschen mit physischen Einschränkungen, philosophischen Lesekreisen, soziologischen Werkanalyseformaten bis hin zu Workshops für Schülerinnen umfasst. Das Hauptanliegen ist, eine Partizipationsplattform für Kunstschaffende, Wissenschaftlerinnen, Kulturarbeiter*innen aller Provenienz und Kooperationen mit anderen Kulturinitiativen zu bieten, sowie die Konzipierung, Produktion und Umsetzung eigener Beiträge durch die beiden Hauptverantwortlichen Kristina Gorke BA BA MA MA und Dr. phil. Bernd Gutmannsbauer. Zu den zahlreichen und unterschiedlichen Projekten gehören u. a. die poststrukturalistische Neuinszenierung von „Der Freischütz“ (2022), die Ausstellungen „Böse Kunst“ (2024), „Good Luck!“ (2025), die Artist Talk-Formate „Die Gorkbauers fokussieren“ (seit 2020), „Ahoi Atelier“, „Public Listening Session“, die Konzertreihen „Schubert for the People“, „Bach Makes Me Wet“, „Can You Händel this?“, „Ein Abend mit“, sowie der philosophische Lesekreis „Die Lese“.
The association accomplices was founded in 2017 and has since presented an extensive program encompassing a wide spectrum of concerts, performances, artist talks (including events held directly in artists’ studios), multi- and intermedia exhibitions, music, children’s and theatre projects for people with physical disabilities, philosophical reading circles, sociological work-analysis formats, as well as workshops for students.
Its primary aim is to provide a participatory platform for artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners of all backgrounds, to foster collaborations with other cultural initiatives, and to conceive, produce, and realize its own projects through its two principal directors, Kristina Gorke BA BA MA MA and Dr. phil. Bernd Gutmannsbauer.
Among the numerous and diverse projects are, for example, the post-structuralist re-staging of “Der Freischütz” (2022), the exhibitions “Böse Kunst” (2024) and “Good Luck!” (2025), the artist talk formats “Die Gorkbauers fokussieren” (since 2020), “Ahoi Atelier”, and “Public Listening Session”, the concert series “Schubert for the People”, “Bach Makes Me Wet”, “Can You Händel this?”, and “Ein Abend mit”, as well as the philosophical reading circle “Die Lese.”
In the practical part of the workshop, students used the app Artivive to bring their artworks to life and worked creatively with Canva. Guided expertly by Nicole Wogg, they gained valuable insights into augmented reality. Special thanks go to the OeAD for financially supporting this engaging workshop.
Nicole Wogg (b. 1986, Graz) is an Austrian visual artist working in drawing, painting, and collage. Her fragmentary compositions capture the subtle and striking imperfections of everyday life, at times humorous, at times sharply ironic. By questioning the illusion of perfection in contemporary society, her work opens a critical yet playful dialogue about aesthetics and reality. A central element of her practice is the fusion of analog and digital media. Through augmented reality, Wogg expands her drawings and paintings into immersive, interactive experiences. Digital layers disrupt and extend the physical image, allowing lines to dissolve into chaos and inviting viewers to engage with the artwork beyond its static surface. She studied at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and the HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, and has exhibited widely in Austria and internationally. Since 2022, she has been represented by Galerie Grill in Graz.