Urfahr area celebrates creative geniuses: gold for young artists!

Urfahr area celebrates creative geniuses: gold for young artists!

This year we can look forward to an exciting presentation of creativity from the Urfahr-Environment district. Leopold Kastler from Walding and Nico Pflügler from Gallneukirchen are the shining winners of the Prix Ars Electronica 2025. Their innovative projects will be on display as part of the renowned “ARS Electronica” festival from September 3rd to 7th in PostCity Linz. This event, entitled “PANIC – yes/no”, is an important center of the media art scene and attracts international talent. Local artists show their great skills here and have the opportunity to present their ideas, it is reported Tips.

Nico Pflügler received a special award together with Aleksa Jović for their film “Making goat cheese from the goat’s point of view”. The two were awarded the coveted “Golden Nica” in the u19 category, which is the first win for artists from our region in this category since 2017. You can tell that experimenting with absurdity and disturbing elements in her works arouses great interest.

Innovative energy projects

But that's not all: Leopold Kastler impressed the jury with his “WWS Power Cube”, for which he received the u12 main prize. This means he has already won his third main prize at the Prix Ars Electronica. The WWS Power Cube is an innovative device that generates electricity from water, wind and solar energy. Originally developed during a stay on a mountain pasture where only a small solar cell was available, it is ideal for remote locations. However, it does not necessarily require all three energy sources, but also works with just one described as a pioneering project.

The special thing about Kastler's invention: His device has a compartment that protects against water and is easy to transport. Hinged wind turbines and removable protective covers guarantee safety in handling and transport. This invention is entirely in line with an increasing interest in renewable energy, which not only protects the environment but can also inspire art and culture.

Ars Electronica as a place of experience

The “create your world” section of the festival offers interactive experiences for the whole family, from programming Bee Bots to energy transition projects. With her installation “Rainbow”, artist Yari Häfele shows a strong symbol of hope, peace and diversity. The festival is an experience for all the senses and lays the foundation for new technologies and art to come together in a sustainable way. Visitors also have the opportunity to take a “Family Tour” with an AI agent and experience various adventures.

Art and culture are largely responsible for how we as a society respond to the challenges of climate change. The synergetic effects created by renewable energies in the creative scene are diverse. The integration of green energy into art projects not only enables new themes and techniques, but also leads to a creative exchange that enriches both areas. This makes it clear that the combination of art and renewable energies is not only contemporary, but also necessary in order to think and act sustainably Vegeco determines.

Enjoy the Ars Electronica 2025 arts and culture festival! Tips is also giving away 3×2 festival passes, so maybe it’s your chance to discover a piece of this creative world.