The Portuguese artist Rui Chafes created „Stärker als der Tod“ (“Stronger than Death”), a two-part sculpture that connects Bamberg and Villach. One part of the work is located in the Protestant St. Stephen's Church, the other in the Villach City Church.
His works, forged from jet-black iron, create a fascinating tension between heaviness and lightness. The abstract, organically shaped figures protrude from the wall and end in spherical elements that seem to interact playfully with each other.
This creates a lightness that almost dematerializes the solid material. His art deals intensively with historical and sacred spaces and creates an exciting contrast to the baroque architecture.
The installation in St. Stephen's was created in 2007 to mark the anniversary of the diocese.
In addition to Stärker als der Tod, other works by the artist can be discovered in Bamberg, including „Langsamer Traum (“Slow dream”) and „Ängstlicher Mond“ (“Fearful moon”).