100 Years of the Schmittenhöhe Railway: An Anniversary Becomes Art

Christian Ludwig Attersee is designing the official anniversary theme for “100 Years of Schmittenhöhe Railway” and thus kicking off a packed anniversary program for Schmittenhöhe Railway AG in 2027.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the Schmittenhöhe cable car in 2027, the renowned Austrian artist Christian Ludwig Attersee created an exclusive commemorative artwork. The artwork was unveiled to invited guests for the first time at an exclusive event at the POSTart Gallery in Zell am See.

The approximately 40 invited guests from politics, business, tourism, culture, and media accepted the invitation of Schmittenhöhebahn AG. Gallerist Roman Hollaus provided the perfect setting for the premiere of the anniversary work at the POSTart Gallery. Afterwards, the guests were invited to the opening of the Attersee exhibition "DUCK WEDDING TO THE EDGE OF THE MEADOW."

A work of art as a common thread throughout the anniversary year

Christian Ludwig Attersee personally presented his work and offered insights into his artistic exploration of the special occasion. "100 years of the Schmittenhöhe cable car represent 100 years of movement and encounters. For me, it was a special task to translate this history into color and form, thus giving the anniversary its own artistic identity," said Christian Ludwig Attersee regarding his successful works.

The design, created specifically for the 100th anniversary, will be far more than just an artistic prelude. It will form the visual theme of the celebrations and run like a common thread through the entire year of 2027. From the initial events in January, commemorating the railway's planning phase, through the historic groundbreaking ceremony in March 1927, to the celebrations surrounding the completion and maiden voyage in December.

Decades of connection with art and culture

The collaboration with Christian Ludwig Attersee continues a long tradition. For decades, Schmittenhöhebahn AG has maintained close ties with the art and culture scene, repeatedly creating points of contact between alpine experiences and artistic creation.

“Our 100th anniversary is far more than just a look back. It is a tribute to the people who have shaped our history and, at the same time, a commitment to the future. With Christian Ludwig Attersee, we have secured one of Austria’s most important contemporary artists for this special project. His work lends our anniversary year a distinctive artistic identity and will accompany Schmittenhöhebahn AG well beyond 2027,” emphasizes Dr. Erich Egger, CEO of Schmittenhöhebahn AG. Dr. Egger also provided a first glimpse into the anniversary year of 2027 and the planned activities surrounding the 100th anniversary.

Christian Ludwig Attersee, born in 1940 in Pressburg (now Bratislava), grew up in Upper Austria and studied painting at the Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna from 1957 to 1963. From a young age, his passion extended beyond art to sports: as a successful regatta sailor, he won several Austrian national championships. Since the 1960s, he has developed a distinctive visual language and is now considered one of the leading figures in contemporary Austrian art. In 1977, he participated in documenta VI in Kassel, and in 1984, he represented Austria at the Venice Biennale. From 1992 to 2009, he was a professor at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. In 1997, he was awarded the Grand Austrian State Prize for Art.

His work extends far beyond painting and includes graphic design, music, film, literature, design, and stage design. His expressive use of color and distinctive formal language, as well as the interplay of nature, music, language, joie de vivre, and irony, are characteristic of his work.