The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20 - CLICK HERE
Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
The Nail–Tree Talisman / 'Stock I'm Eisen'

Nails were hammered into the tree for various reasons that reflect Austria's customary traditions of 18th century blacksmiths upon leaving the city. Prior to that, mystical beliefs which were rather common throughout South Eastern Europe and the Middle East, implied a wound would be healed through the transference of energy metaphysically, via the nail. In any case, the nail-tree talisman serves as a symbol for the City's Mythical Center as suggested by the Austrian Folklorist, Leopold Schmidt.

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE


Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
One of the reliefs on the door of the Palais Equitable illustrating the legend of the Nail–Tree Talisman / 'Stock im Eisen.'

The first written mention of the Nail-Tree Talisman is in 1533.

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE


Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
Looking For the Mythical Center, 2018
Vienna's Land Registry

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
2019-20 Fulbright Scholar Grantees in Vienna.

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
Meeting with Lumine at the Museumsquartier to discuss the project prior to the First Pandemic Lockdown in March 2020.

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
Brainstorming other ideas on my own with a pen and paper as I considered to make an animation growing out of the Nail–Tree Talisman.

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
Drawing by BERMANN, 'Alt– und Neu–Wien,' 1880 p.0852, Der Stock im Eisen

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE


Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE Collection of J. Moore, CA
DETAIL from 'Six Vertebrae,' 2014
oil pastel frottage, pigment, ink, thread
Collection of J. Moore, CA

From the brainstorming phase:
Shapes reminded me of the Nail-Tree Talisman and I considered using part of this stitched piece for a projected animation.

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
Working over Zoom with Lumine, May 2020.
The potential digital mapping for an animated tree. The whole thing was far too complicated especially given the circumstances of covid and the symbolism that came with a singular spruce tree.

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
Working with Lumine June 2020 and going forward with the original idea to transform the entire facade of the Palais Equitable through the projection of a forest.

Nicola Ginzel  The Realignment of the Nail–Tree Talisman: Psyche and Commerce - PHASE I - 2018-20    -    CLICK HERE
Digital Mock–Up by Lumine, 2020
with support from Fulbright Austria and Q21 Artist in Residency Program in 2020

Breathing life back into the nail–tree talisman by placing back into its original environment, a spruce forest.