BIOGRAPHY

Project Leophard was launched in 1987 by the artist Gerhard Zsambok after he was inspired during a visit to the Wiener Prater (The Wiener Prater is a 100 year old institution, which acts as the ‘green lungs’ of Vienna, similar to Hyde Park in London or Central Park in New York). by the ‘hydrodynamic paradox’ of a ball hovering on a water beam.  Zsambok’s imagination was fired by the enigma of an object floating, suspended as proof against gravity through the intermediary of water.  

Treating the unique characteristics of water as an artform, Project Leophard explores the inexplicable strangeness and miracles of gravity and water. The results are presented through the use of often humorous and playful art machines that are operated by or show the mysterious phenomena caused by water.

Central to Project Leophard is the use of motion to examine the numerous dynamic conditions of flowing water.  Water always moves quickly to a conventional state so many of the conditions achieved through the art machines are rare and mostly unknown.  The artist’s intention is to intervene moment by moment to separate and capture every facet of the water’s state.  Zsambok likens this to a poet illuminating each fleeting emotion with his lyrics and thus these art machines work to inspire the viewer with a new vision or to recapture a brief moment from their past.

Zsambok enjoys exploring the power of water to produce maximal effects from minimal forces.  For him the choice of water as an artistic medium is proven through the ability to continually increase its weight until it reach a point where it’s stored energy is set free and immediately starts a process of motion that allows the greatest range of outcomes. This process may also be seen in the art machines which have been designed for interactive play.  The visitor is seduced by the subtle exchanges between the objet d’art and himself and, confronted by the strange consequences of his actions, learns to play with the forces of water, balance and gravity.

From the very start Zsambok’s observations have been regularly enhanced by the subtle use of light thereby heightening the viewers’ perceptions of the magic which is taking place before their eyes.  Only white light is ever used to show the miracles that are achieved by waters very lack of form and colour.

Over the last 15 years, Zsambok, in the course of his water research for Project Leophard, has created art machines that are sited in countries throughout Europe. A list of the major sitings are given in the Chronology but the latest works are: Aqua Scope which consists of six interactive sculptures and is sited in a glass building built by the architect Boris Podrecca; Aqua Max, where a life-size human figure, manipulated by the viewer, performs incredible feats through the use of water pressure and repulsion.  This is one of six interactive exhibits designed by Zsambok for the Krimmler Water Wonderworld in Salzburg, Austria; and The Turning Point, which transforms the logo of the Kremser Bank, Austria through the use of Zsambok’s hydrodynamic paradox.  Zsambok also created a Fountain for the Bank’s gardens as part of the same project.  This has a tumbling rock crystal ball as its centrepiece, which, through its movements, produces spiral shaped waves.  Most recently, the artist has just been awarded the prize to create a Water Pavilion for the place where it all started: the Wiener Prater.

Major exhibitions that Zsambok has appeared at include the Schloss Concordia in Vienna with Friedensreich Hundertwasser, MAK (Museum für angewandte Kunst) with Manfred Walkobinger and many others, and Art Innsbruck, an international art exhibition, as well as several solo exhibitions.

Zsambok’s creations can paint, dance, sing, threaten and joke.  The artist says:

“I have found out how water can roar, grunt, laugh or cry.
How it can fall without any noise.
How it awakes a human-like figure to life.
How it can appear as a movie or become a juggler.
In the playful intercourse between mechanics, gravity and balance, evidence of the wonderful in that life element which is water is examined and represented through my art machines.”
 

CHRONOLOGY

Time	Exhibitions	Projects
1991		Vienna Waterworld: Project Leophard develops a waterclock for outside.
1992	Exhibitions with the Wiener Wasserwerke in Austria, Germany and Hungary.
1993	“The magic of water”
1994	Single exhibitions in Vienna.	Leophard develops the “Narrative machine” for a garden of a residence in Pöchlarn/Austria.
1995		Festival of Folkmusic in Waidhofen/Austria: schoolworkshop: Leophard creates a folkmusic playing water wheel with the kids of the local secondary school.
1996		Creation of the “wave machine” for the major of Vienna. Creation of a “water movie” for the railways of Austria (ÖBB) in Uttendorf/Austria.
1997	On tour with the “flying machine” in Swiss and Denmark. Exhibition in the Villa Aurora in Vienna/Predigtstuhl.	Metal and water workshop with kids of a grammar school/Vienna.
1998	Exhibition in The Schlosshotel in Velden/Wörthersee/Austria.	Schoolworkshop: Leophard creates a Rain-sound-machine with 19 kids of a secondary school/Vienna.
1999	Single exhibition for the “Haus Wien Energie”. Single exhibition for the Company Verbund.	“Aqua Scope”: Leophard creates 6 interactive exhibits for the Community in Vienna placed in a Podrecca building at the Donaukanal. The exhibition lasts 3 years during the summer. Schoolworkshop in the museum for Arbeitswelt in Steyr/Austria. Leophard creates a miniature ferry boat with the kids.
2000 –2004		“KrimmlerWaterWonderWorld”: Leophard creates 8 exhibits for in- and outdoor
2001	Presentation fo “the pioneers of water”, which is a great water mobile.	Water environement consisting of 3 objects for a local museum in Waidhofen/Ybbs/Austria. “Aqua Max” for Krimml/Austria: Life sized sculpture which can be animates (based on repulsion of water) by the visitors.
2002	Presentation of 2 objects at the seat of government in St. Pölten/Austria. “Magic of water”: Single Exhibition in the Almdudler Artclub/Vienna.	“Aqua Max II” for a waterpark in Hidrodoe/Belgium. “The turning point”: Transofrmation of a bank-logo into a dynamic symbol by using the hydrodynamic symbol. Leophard creates a fountain made of stone.
2003	„Optionen“ at Galerie Wohlleb, Vienna

Animated Sculpures

Figurative Sculptures

Water Effects

Wells in public space and garden wells

Works and concepts for the public space

References in public

Biography

Workshop

Contact