Bauernkriegsmaschine - Peasants' War Machine
by Gebhard Sengmüller, in collaboration with Michael Blank
"Peasants' War Machine" is a media-archaeological experimental setup that speculatively rewrites the history of the Salzburg Peasants' War of 1525–26: What if the rebels had already had their own, superior media infrastructure? The installation reconstructs a fictional yet technically plausible early modern technology—an alternative means of communication for the rebellion.
In the accompanying text to his artwork "The Edison Effect" (1993), Paul DeMarinis writes about the invention of the phonograph: "The invention, or rather, the discovery, of sound recording and reproduction by Edison came as a shock to the entire world, the inventor included. [...] the talking machine was a simple mechanical contrivance which could have been built successfully several centuries earlier, in plenty of time to skyrocket Bach and Mozart to international stardom.
Drawing on this line of thought, "Peasants' War Machine" develops a secret, electrical communication system from the early 16th century, thereby demonstrating how much the outcome of social conflicts also depends on the availability of information technology.
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Bauernkriegsmaschine will be on display at [Museum Schloss Ritzen] in Saalfelden from May 9 through October 31, 2026. The opening is on May 8 at 7:00 p.m., with opening remarks by Katja Mittendorfer-Oppolzer of [Salzburg Museum]. The artwork was commissioned by the State of Salzburg as part of its [Simultan] series.
[Einladungskarte (pdf)]
[Wandtext (pdf)]
[Programmheft (pdf)]
Bauernkriegsmaschine was created in collaboration with [Michael Blank].
I would also like to thank:
- Adi Figl, [Bio-Hof Figl], Puch bei Hollabrunn
- Nikolaus Fuchs, Wien
- Mag.art. Matthias Hammer und Mag.art. Johannes Hoffmann, Akademie der Bildenden Künste Wien
- Wolfgang Lösch und Dr. Willi Grimm, [Fabrikmuseum Roth]
- [Martin Pühringer] Clavichord- und Cembalobau, Haslach und Wien
- [Dr. Reinhold Reith], Fachbereich Geschichte der Universität Salzburg
- [Giovanni Rindler], Wien
- Barbara, Leopold und Pauline Sengmüller, Wien
- [Mgr. Dominik Talla, PhD], Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallographie der Universität Wien
- Fredrik Wigh, Director Magnetizing Technology, [Magnet-Physik Köln]
All files are copyright © 2026 by Gebhard Sengmüller. Permission to publish is contingent upon proper published attribution to ”Bauernkriegsmaschine” and the subsequent receipt by Gebhard Sengmüller of a copy of the published material.
In the case of special requests or problems, please e-mail us at gebseng@gebseng.com