The first impression: Tentacles float out of a jellyfish-like body, in all-embracing darkness. But the impression is deceiving – what Sissa Micheli has exposed, developed, stopped and fixed several times over is not a medusa. The object, whose contours and shapes have been swallowed by the photogram, is in fact a parachute.  In Micheli’s series “Reversed Parachutes”, the baryta paper, which is normally smoothed out, was left in its original wavy state. By means of targeted framing, the parachute appears to be trapped in a whirling frenzy, throwing its limbs into the air like a dancing figure. The topographic haptics of the baryta paper, frozen in movement, appear as a cartography of our desires that are being projected onto its surface.

—  Patrick Schabus

Sissa Micheli hält in ihrer Fotografie einen flüchtigen Moment fest, der dem menschlichen Auge entgeht. Ihre Inszenierungen entfalten eine magische Wirkung durch das Zusammenspiel von Kontrolle und Zufall: Die präzise Platzierung der Modelle, die gezielte Ausleuchtung des Settings und die bewusste Auswahl des Stoffes treffen auf die Unberechenbarkeit des Augenblicks, etwa durch den zufälligen Fall des Stoffes. Gerade dieser kaum greifbare, von der Linse eingefangene Moment – zeitlich fast ein Nichts – entfaltet im Bild eine beeindruckende, beinahe skulpturale Monumentalität.

Text: Thérèse Gregori

Sissa Micheli hält in ihrer Fotografie einen flüchtigen Moment fest, der dem menschlichen Auge entgeht. Ihre Inszenierungen entfalten eine magische Wirkung durch das Zusammenspiel von Kontrolle und Zufall: Die präzise Platzierung der Modelle, die gezielte Ausleuchtung des Settings und die bewusste Auswahl des Stoffes treffen auf die Unberechenbarkeit des Augenblicks, etwa durch den zufälligen Fall des Stoffes. Gerade dieser kaum greifbare, von der Linse eingefangene Moment – zeitlich fast ein Nichts – entfaltet im Bild eine beeindruckende, beinahe skulpturale Monumentalität.

Text: Thérèse Gregori

Sissa Micheli’s latest works are centred around the themes of landscape ontology and understanding of science, which are directly linked to relevant topics of our time. The artist translates her views of reality into a metaphorical message to make us aware of the limits of the system we live in, and to enable a critical analysis of our society. In Rocket World, which shows a charred and smoking globe, Micheli addresses not just climate change, but also the devastating wars that happen in the world. The work is a warning to be mindful of our environment as well as a message of peace. It is a signal, a wake-up call from the artist to the world. 

— Sissa Micheli

Sissa Micheli’s works deal with important themes of our times, connected with the ontology of landscapes and the understanding of science. The artist avails herself of metaphorical imagery to show us the limits of our natural habitat and perform a critical analysis of our society. In A Mountain Phenomenon, an iceberg constructed from a rescue blanket that was developed by NASA in 1964, she condenses the problems of climate change and the associated melting of the glaciers in a single photograph. The work is a warning to be mindful of our ecological habitat. – Sissa Micheli

The series “Silver Mountains” is the epitome of the Austrian Alps, distilling the entire mountain spectrum into a miniature object. The focus lies on the exceptional role that the Austrian mountains have played in generating prosperity for the country. Tourism and skiing have brought wealth to Austria’s mountain regions. However, we are also called upon to protect their ecological habitat. The silver finish of the objects is there to remind us of the uniqueness of this natural world heritage.

— Sissa Micheli