Magic Loot! Hundreds of Mozart Figurines Stolen in Salzburg

German artist Ottmar Hörl, a major figure on the contemporary scene, is known for his large-scale installations that repeat a single motif in series – his famous blue rabbits or golden angels have toured the world. For several years, he has been pursuing a project called "The Magic Mozart," in which he renders the Austrian composer's portrait as figurines in different colors. It is precisely one of these series that has just been targeted by thieves in Salzburg, Austria, where the composer was born in 1756.

According to information reported by Artnet News, several hundred of these figurines have been stolen. The exact scale of the theft has not been specified, but it is likely a significant loss. Local authorities have opened an investigation, but no suspect has been identified so far. This is a new chapter in a series of similar incidents: it is not the first time that Ottmar Hörl's creations have been victims of theft.

Ottmar Hörl, born in 1950 in Nauheim, Germany, has built his reputation on installations that question the relationships between art, society, and the market. His most famous work, a 2003 installation titled "The Great Rabbit," featured hundreds of blue plastic rabbits, a reflection on the proliferation of images and objects in mass culture. With his Mozart figurines, he revisits the musical icon, transforming it into an object of popular consumption. The choice of Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, is no accident: each year, many tourists flock there for the music festival that bears the composer's name.

This theft will inevitably reignite the debate about the value of such public artworks, often installed in urban spaces without special protection. Cultural authorities in Salzburg will have to decide whether to replace the stolen pieces or choose to strengthen surveillance. The artist, for his part, has not yet publicly reacted to this incident. Meanwhile, art lovers can wonder about the fate of these figurines, which could well reappear on the parallel market.

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Written by the ADM desk based on artnet News. Read the original article for the full story.