Laura
Dominici

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I’m based in Vienna, Austria. My studio situation is a bit spread out at the moment, so I work across a few different spaces, depending on the material I’m working with.

Where is your studio located & how does it look?

I partly work from home, when I’m on the computer. I share a studio with Basil Schu, just around the corner from my flat in the 5th district. We started working together on the Lazy Swim collection about a year ago. Additionally, I share another studio with my friend the artist Mira Klug in the 15th district, where I mainly work on plaster and silver pieces–this is the dusty studio. When we moved in, the whole place was covered in wallpaper, and when we took it off, we discovered this beautiful ceiling painting underneath. Lately, I’ve been focusing on the silicone works for the Lazy Swim collection, so I have not spent much time in the 15th district. I’m looking forward to spending more time there soon to continue developing the plaster works.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you—whether recently completed or currently in progress?

The Lazy Swim Collection is keeping Basil and me busy at the moment. We’re still developing new ideas for it, focusing on objects reminiscent of swimming scenes. For example, a ladder leading out of a pool invites you to sit down. Neatly stacked towels reveal themselves to be a seating sculpture made from paintings.

What interests us is that often, it’s the seemingly trivial objects–ladders, towels, tiles, or pool noodles–that can evoke strong memories. Their tactile quality, peculiar yet familiar shapes, and Proustian character give these objects this power. A glance or a touch can transport you somewhere else.

This is just one theme; we’re already looking forward to exploring another one in the future.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

The Schönbrunn Palace is just around the corner from my studio in the 15th district. I enjoy walking in the gardens, and in the summer, Schönbrunner Bad is the perfect place to go for a swim in the evenings.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

The current austerity measures and budget cuts also affect cultural funding. Many projects are only feasible thanks to this support, and I fear that a significant proportion of people in the cultural sector will have to reconsider their financial structures. This raises broader questions about how we value artistic work as a society and how resilient our cultural landscape can be under such conditions.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years—and what has not?

I consider the greening of Vienna over the last five years to be a significant improvement. At the same time, I wish that public spaces were designed with more variety in terms of plantings, water features, seating areas, etc.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

One local hidden gem is the Kupferstich- und Druckatelier Lubach. Among other things, Kirsten Lubach makes business cards using the traditional copperplate engraving technique, printing each one by hand. I received a set as a graduation gift and they are very special.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

Vienna’s public housing is particularly innovative. Although rents have been rising lately, housing here is still relatively affordable compared to other major cities because of the Wiener Gemeindebauten. A prime example is the Karl-Marx-Hof, one of those public housing projects spanning over 1 km.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

Heuriger are particularly special in Vienna in summer. For example, ‘Wieninger am Nussberg‘ or ‘Heuriger Sirbu‘, located in the vineyards in the 19th district.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

One thing that is special about Vienna is that there are places where you don’t have to consume much, yet you can sit for hours. This applies to the traditional coffee houses, such as Café Schwarzenberg, as well as the Heurigen in the vineyards. It’s not so much about a specific shop, but about this very Viennese culture of slowing down and staying, which you don’t find in many other cities.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

That would be Spotify, where I listen to music or podcasts, and then my email and Instagram apps, which I check regularly throughout the day.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

Currently, I have an online subscription to Die Zeit, and I enjoy listening to the Ö1 Mittagsjournal, which starts at 12 and runs for an hour, on the radio.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

I would strengthen support for young designers and artists, expand Vienna’s network of bike lanes, and continue the city’s efforts to become greener. And I would like to give urban designers more freedom to shape public spaces in a more individual and site-specific way.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constrains—which one would you choose?

I went to New York last September for the Collectible Show, where Basil and I presented our first collaborative piece. We went again this year because we loved it so much. I enjoy the calmness of Vienna, but I wouldn’t mind spending a few months in New York–I really like the energy of the city.