The sculptures on the cliff face are unsightly for tourists.

This tourist booth is actually an artwork called "Cliffhanger," created by a group of artists from the Steinbrener-Dempf & Huber project. The artwork is installed directly on the vertical cliff face of Mirafall Falls (Austria) and is inaccessible in any way.

"Cliffhanger" is a play on words. Literally, "cliff hanger" means hanging on a cliff – corresponding to the location of the artwork. Figuratively, the term "cliffhanger" is often used in cinema to refer to unfinished endings that leave the audience frustrated and curious.

True to the figurative meaning of the work's title, this "tourist outpost" evokes negative emotions in many visitors. They feel indignant that the wild nature is being encroached upon by man-made structures, losing its original pristine beauty.

Speaking to Insider, sculptor Christoph Steinbrener, head of the Steinbrener-Dempf & Huber project, said that the "Cliffhanger" sculpture was created not to please tourists, but to have the opposite meaning.

"The purpose of this unique arrangement is to symbolize humanity's excessive impact on the environment; it evokes negative emotions to stimulate action, to speak up, and to contribute to protecting the natural environment," Christoph explained.

According toZenger NewsThis artwork was commissioned by Florian Schublach, head of the Oetscher-Tormaeuer Natural Park, where Mirafall Falls is located. Schublach stated that Cliffhanger was not intended to be a tourist attraction, but "to create a contrast with other well-known landmarks." He also hopes it will encourage visitors to appreciate the natural beauty of Mirafall Falls even more.

This "tourist booth" was launched in September 2020 and will continue to be on display until the end of September 2021, despite protests from visitors.

Bo Di