Gemeinsteine
16.04.2026
Gemeinsteine is a participatory mosaic floor project led by artist Anna Khodorkovskaya in collaboration with residents of Hollabrunn and the surrounding area. Developed with AIR InSILo, an international artist-in-residence programme in the Weinviertel, the project centres on social engagement, inviting up to 60 participants to help create a permanent public artwork through ten free workshops running from 16 May to 5 July. The mosaic will be installed outdoors at AIR InSILo from 13 to 15 July and unveiled to the public on 18 July. Participation is open to anyone aged 14 and above, and no prior experience is required.
The project draws on Austria’s tradition of socially engaged public art, particularly the post-war Kunst am Bau initiatives that integrated mosaics into public spaces. Artists of that period viewed art as part of everyday life – to be created and shared collectively, not separated from its context. Gemeinsteine carries forward this legacy by involving the community directly in the creative process, transforming public space into a place not only for art but also for collaboration and exchange.
Under the title Gemeinsteine, the project continues Austria’s historic tradition of integrating mosaic art into public space. This tradition was particularly significant in the post-war period (1950s–1970s), when mosaics formed part of a cultural and architectural rebuilding process that emphasised shared values and the resilience of communities.
Under the title Gemeinsteine, the project continues Austria’s historic tradition of integrating mosaic art into public space. This tradition was particularly significant in the post-war period (1950s–1970s), when mosaics formed part of a cultural and architectural rebuilding process that emphasised shared values and the resilience of communities.
The illustration by Anna Khodorkovskaya
annakhodorkovskaya.com
Austria has a long and rich history of bringing art into public life, with mosaics playing a key role in the post-war decades. During this time, artists contributed to the cultural renewal of urban spaces by creating works for schools, housing estates, and public buildings, often supported by initiatives such as Kunst am Bau, which ensured that art became part of everyday life. The artists who shaped this tradition believed that art should not be separate from life. Their public sculptures and mosaics were meant to be lived with, not merely observed – an idea that closely aligns with the philosophy of AIR InSILo, which emphasises the inseparability of artistic production and everyday life.
Gemeinsteine builds on this legacy and brings it into the present, creating a new form of public art that is not only rooted in the community but also shaped by it.
Gemeinsteine builds on this legacy and brings it into the present, creating a new form of public art that is not only rooted in the community but also shaped by it.
