A whimsical tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has turned into a mystery after 210 gold-colored figures vanished from one of Austria's busiest tourist attractions. The mass theft has forced organizers to prematurely end the outdoor display in Salzburg's Mirabell Garden, disrupting a major public art project commemorating the 270th anniversary of the composer's birth.

The Mozarteum Foundation confirmed that 210 of the 320 figures installed in the garden have disappeared. Although some replacement figures were held in reserve, they were insufficient to offset the scale of the theft. The manufacturer is currently on summer holiday, leaving no quick way to replenish the stock. Several dozen figures remain on display at the Mozarteum and Mozart's birthplace until the end of August.

The polymer figures depict Mozart with his dog Pimperl, a nod to the composer's everyday life in Salzburg. German conceptual artist Ottmar Hörl, who created the installation, said he wanted to present Mozart not as a monument but "as a normal human being despite his genius." Hörl is known for large-scale installations featuring identical figures of famous personalities.

Hörl expressed dismay over the loss, stating, "The worst thing for an artist is when his work dissolves." He dismissed the idea that tourists simply walked off with the 50-centimeter (20-inch) figures, calling it "organized theft." He suggested the figures were likely taken at night after the garden had closed, adding, "I find it a bit cheeky."

Hörl had planned to sell the figures after the exhibition for around €90 each, putting the estimated loss at roughly €20,000. This is not the first such incident for Hörl; a previous display in Bayreuth saw 100 figures of composer Richard Wagner disappear. Reflecting on the recurring problem, Hörl remarked, "That's just the nature of public space. When you work as an artist in a public space, you mustn't complain about what is happening there. It ranges from destruction to theft. That's just how it is."

Source: www.dw.com