In the summer of 1831, Archduke Franz Karl and Archduchess Sophie brought their young son, Franz Joseph, to Bad Ischl, where he celebrated his first birthday – a tradition that continued for more than 80 years. Franz Joseph referred to his summers as the „heavenly abode in Ischl.“ To this day, the emperor’s birthday is celebrated in Bad Ischl on August 18th with a grand ceremony.
While in the past, visitors came to witness and pay hommage to their monarch during these celebrations, nowadays, many visitors come to Ischl with the urge to capture every moment in the memory of their phones. Many visitors frantically record videos of the arrival of the „emperor and empress,“ while others strive to secure the best position for a photograph at any cost. The absurdity of the situation is accentuated by scenes where you can see only mobile phones above the heads of the visitors. A striking image of the current „heavenly stay“ in Ischl.
The project incorporates typical colors of the Habsburg monarchy, such as yellow, black, red, gold as a symbol of luxury, as well as blue and green, the typical colors of uniforms and traditional men’s clothing.
