A public art installation in Salzburg has been cut short following the theft of 210 gold-colored Mozart figurines from the Mirabell Garden. The display, which featured 320 sculptures to mark the 270th anniversary of the composer's birth, was intended to humanize Mozart rather than portray him as a distant monument. Organizers confirmed the loss is significant, as the manufacturer is currently on summer break, making it impossible to replace the stolen pieces in time for the planned duration of the event.
Artist Ottmar Hörl, known for his large-scale conceptual installations, stated he does not believe casual tourists are responsible for the disappearance of the 50-centimeter figures. Instead, he views the event as an act of organized theft, likely occurring overnight when the park was closed. The financial loss is estimated to be approximately 20,000 euros, as the figures were designated for sale once the exhibition concluded.
This is not the first time Hörl’s public work has faced such challenges. A previous installation in Bayreuth saw 100 figures of composer Richard Wagner stolen in a similar fashion. Hörl remarked that he accepts these risks as a standard aspect of placing art in public spaces, where the results range from damage to theft. While some figures remain at the Mozarteum and Mozart's birthplace, the centerpiece garden display is now permanently closed.