The "Guardians of Time" were developed by the artist Manfred Kielnhofer, who is sure that mankind is watched and protected by strange characters. The designer and photographer was always interested in the human being as model as well as a potential source of danger to mankind. In 2006 he created the first life-size "Time Guardians" to be part of the Skulpturenpark Artpark in Linz. The sculpture reminds us of a monk. The artist uses the human form as a tool, either on a canvas or in a sculpture. During the following years Kielnhofer put his time guardians in public places like in front of ancient castles, squares, old mines or in parks. They traveled to several countries and were part of many exhibitions. In his works of art Manfred Kielnhofer deals with the natural human desire for security. Thus his oeuvre reflects genuine exploration, consideration and discussion of current as well as historic moods and sensibilities of his social environment. The message is, that people should never forget that they are always watched by a power, that is stronger than mankind. In 2012 Kielnhofer designed the Mini guards, 54x36x34cm, 1 kg, as a limited edition, they are signed and made of plastic. In various colours they can be illuminated from within. One of the Mini guards was ordered by Peter Weibel for the ZKM in 2012. Guardians of Time Settle in During Art Dubai 2013. First cast bronze guardian of the art foundry Krismer. In 2014 the large-scale sculptures 220x220x220cm guardians are shown by the Festival of Lights in Berlin. The guardians are shown by the 56th Venice Biennale Of Art, Collateral Event – Personal Structures, Time Space Existence at the Palazzo Mora. First works with the glass Berengo_Studio Murano Venice. A fine empty coat was made of white Carrara marble by Studio Massimo Galleni in 2016.
Exhibitions
2006–2007. : Gallery Artpark Linz – Skulpturenpark Artpark, Gallery Fotopark Linz, Time guardians on tournee
2008. Egon Schiele Art Centrum (CZ), Gallery Fontaine Amstetten, Black Box Gallery Copenhagen/Linz, art garden Graz;
2009 Cass Sculpture Fondation (UK), Art Vilnius together with Martina Schettina, Franz West and de:Herbert Brandl, Artfair Berlin-Arttower, Galerie Seywald Salzburg, Mobile-Galerie Hörsching, Woka Lamps Vienna
2010 Castle Schloss Steyregg near Linz, Neuköllner Kunstsalon Berlin, Galerie Kunst und Handel Graz, Kunstraum Ringstrassen, Light Art Biennale Austria 2010, Galerie Claudiana, Area 53 vienna, Citygalerie, Kunsthandel Freller
2011 Galerie Thiele Linz, Nord Art Germany, Kunstprojekt "ghost car" zur Art Basel, Liste, Scope, Volta Show, Festival of Lights Berlin, Grevenbroich Inseln des Lichtes, Kunsthaus Tacheles Berlin, Kunstverein Passau, ArtStays Ptuj Slovenia, Time guards on tour in Venice
2012 Designmonat Graz, Galerie Bachlechner, Sculpture show Castle Hartberg "Slow", Ferryman Ferry Basel public Art Basel show, Occupy movement DOCUMENTA (13) Kassel Time guards, Festival of Lights Berlin, Art & Antiques fair vienna sculpture garden
2013 Galerie Liebau Burghaun Fulda, Phantasten Museum Wien, Guardians of Time Settle in During Art Dubai, VBKW Künstlerparade Stuttgart, Phantasten Museum Wien, public art show Venice Biennale, SCOPE Art Show Basel Galerie Kunst und Handel, Art Bodensee Galerie Galerie Bachlechner, Austrian contemporary sculptures castle Tabor, Festival of Lights Berlin, art and antiques vienna fair, Kunstmesse Fulda Galerie Liebau, IC contemporary Istanbul art project Galerie Kunst und Handel Graz vienna, Wikam Art&Antiques fair vienna sculpture garden Galerie Kunst und Handel, Art&Antique vienna Hofburg Kunsthandel Freller
2014 Wiener internationale Kunst & Antiquitätenmesse Kunsthandel Freller, Art&Antique Residenz Salzburg Kunsthandel Freller, Skulpturensommer Galerie Liebau, WIKAM im Schloss Laxenburg Galerie Szaal, Highlights Art Basel public art, Kunst in der Fabrik II im GIZ Rosegg Galerie Kunst und Handel, public art Brussels and Amsterdam, ART Bodensee galerieGalerie, Art Stays Festival Ptuj Slovenia, Art Salzburg Kunsthandel Freller, Woodlands Waterway Arts Bench Competition, Texas USA, Festival of Lights Berlin, WIKAM Galerie Kunst und Handel, Art&Antique Hofburg Vienna Kunsthandel Freller
2015 56th Venice Biennale Of Art, Collateral Event – Personal Structures, Time Space Existence, Palazzo Mora, TRIO Biennial Three-dimensional Rio de Janeiro Biennial, ArtPrize Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
2016 4th Dubai art award, ArtPrize ArtPrize Grand Rapids Michigan USA, Susan Mains gallery Grenada, Galerie am Museum in Frauenau, Festival of Lights Berlin, Artigo Rio de Janeiro artfair, Light festival Kolding Denmark
Publications
2006: in the online database of MAK Museum of Applied Arts (Vienna) Design-Info-Pool-Online
