The work Herz Jesu Kandl consists of two milk containers, which I transformed using spray paint in various shades of blue along with acrylic colors.
First, I applied a layer of chrome paint to the containers, creating a subtle mirror effect in the background, thus evoking a sky in which the viewer can see their reflection.
Then, using stencils and spray paint, I reconstructed a landscape by layering mountain shapes on top of one another, creating a harmonious composition that represents the typical mountainous scenery of South Tyrol.
Final touches and highlights were added with acrylic paints and a palette knife to give the mountains more dynamism.
A central aspect of this work is the reference to the tradition of the “Herz Jesu Feuer” (Sacred Heart of Jesus Fires). To authentically represent this ancient tradition, I included final details such as small red and yellow dots on the mountain ridges.
The tradition of lighting fires on mountaintops commemorates a solemn vow made to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The custom of bonfires during the summer solstice likely has very ancient roots, already mentioned in 12th-century documents as the Fires of Saint John the Baptist. However, in the 18th century, this tradition was reinterpreted:
In 1796, as Tyrolean estates feared an invasion by Napoleon’s French troops, they turned to God and entrusted the County of Tyrol to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After the surprising victory of the Tyrolean troops, fires were lit on the peaks of mountains and hills.
A significant moment tied to this tradition was the renewal of the vow by Andreas Hofer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus before battle, on Mount Isel. The victorious outcome made the Sacred Heart Sunday an important holiday, still celebrated today on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
The Sacred Heart Fires, with their spectacular bonfires lit on mountain and hilltops, illuminate the South Tyrolean sky every June. This custom is not only alive in the valleys of the region but also in many parts of North Tyrol. On the slopes, striking figures made of straw are burned, depicting religious symbols such as the Heart of Jesus, the cross, and the inscriptions INRI or IHS.
To highlight the natural elements connected to this tradition—like the use of straw and grass burned to create the fires, which are also part of the diet of the cows living in these valleys and mountains—I chose to use milk containers as an additional connecting element. I also placed the containers on a bed of hay, adding an olfactory dimension and helping to recreate the mountain atmosphere, engaging multiple senses of the viewer.
Through this artistic representation, I aimed to express the beauty and importance of the Sacred Heart Fire tradition, rooted in the mountainous landscape of South Tyrol.
With this work, I wanted to share one of my favorite customs from my region—a tradition from the distant past that continues to light up the sky each year, uniting communities and keeping the history and traditions of these lands alive.
