Das Land 1981–1993

«My theme is people and their lives, nature. Sometimes I work on everything at once, sometimes I focus more closely on one theme: getting particularly close to physical existence. The reference to nature cannot be drastic enough to show its sensitivity (transience). I, too, must protect myself from my vulnerability. (...) Talking about the things that really make up life: growing, blossoming, fruit, cold, love; killing and being killed; being able to kill oneself; being able to look everywhere.»
M. W.

«Willmann undoubtedly looks lovingly at the people, animals and landscape of Styria, and in its focus on the down-to-earth character of moments in everyday life, Das Land is a song of praise. Yet it has little of a nostalgic pastoral about it, and there is just as little in these images that a nationalist politician could use for propaganda purposes.»
Hripsimé Visser, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam