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🇦🇹 Austria /Culture & Society

Magician Volcano and Friends Bring Magical Nights to Penzing

From Der Standard · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Retired chemist Wolfgang Meindl, known as Volcano, has practiced magic since retiring seven years ago.
  • He distinguishes technical magic tricks from magic as an art built on creativity, wonder, and laughter.
  • Volcano and fellow hobby magicians perform in a Penzing theater, where disappearing rings are part of the show.

In a theater in Penzing, hobby magicians make rings vanish and turn simple actions into moments of wonder.

However, under completely wrong assumptions. It was about magic tricks, not the art of magic.

· Wolfgang Meindl, known as VolcanoHe describes how his earlier interest in magic differed from his current understanding of magic as an art.

At the center is Wolfgang Meindl, known by his stage name Volcano. A former chemist, he became a full-time hobby magician after retiring seven years ago, although his interest in magic began much earlier.

“However, under completely wrong assumptions,” Meindl says of his earlier interest. “It was about magic tricks, not the art of magic.”

With a trick, technique is in the foreground; with the art of magic, creativity is.

· Wolfgang Meindl, known as VolcanoHe explains the difference between performing a technical trick and creating an artistic experience.

For Meindl, the distinction is crucial. “With a trick, technique is in the foreground; with the art of magic, creativity is,” he says. “You turn a relatively simple action into a work of art that makes people marvel or laugh.”

You turn a relatively simple action into a work of art that makes people marvel or laugh.

· Wolfgang Meindl, known as VolcanoHe describes what he believes magic should achieve for an audience.
About this summary

Originally published by Der Standard in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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