Ceremonial unveiling of the giant easter egg

Art in Kitzbühel for Easter – for a charitable cause and featuring a celebrity line-up! Singer Hansi Hinterseer, real estate entrepreneur Mary-Ann Grimmenstein, curator and art expert Florentine Rosemeyer, artist Simone Opdahl and Wildlife Park owner Andrea Pletzer-Gasser, visited the opening of last year's Kitzbühel Easter Market on Saturday, 9th April 2022. Together they unveiled a 2.20-metre tall painted Easter egg that Mary-Ann Grimmenstein and her real estate company "Upton" donated for the good cause.

“Kitzbühel Easter Market and the giant Easter egg are a wonderful tradition every year. As I have close ties to the area, Nicoletta Plumm from "Kitzbühel Tourism" called me a year and a half ago and asked me to lend support for the Easter project. I didn't want just any Easter egg, however, but a very special one for my beloved Kitzbühel. With this in mind, I asked art consultant Florentine Rosemeyer, who lives here in Kitzbühel, to be curator for the art egg. She was thrilled and recommended artist, Simone Opdahl."

Not only the artistic aspect, but also the charitable purpose is close to Mary-Ann Grimmenstein's heart: "We wanted to combine art and the support of a good cause. So, we came up with the idea of donating the Easter egg to Aurach Wildlife Park. I go there regularly with my two children at the weekends. Unfortunately, the wildlife park suffered great losses during the Corona pandemic, so the Easter egg will now decorate the wildlife park, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022. There's also a charity dinner coming up where we'll be raising funds for the animals.” The powerful team was also able to inspire Hansi Hinterseer: "He maintains close ties with Aurach Wildlife Park and has filmed several movies there. I am delighted that Hansi is supporting us today with this great Easter project," says Mary-Ann Grimmenstein.

Curator and art expert Florentine Rosemeyer has lived in Kitzbühel for several years. She was instrumental in establishing the connection between Mary-Ann Grimmenstein and the artist: "Simone Opdahl is the perfect choice for this wonderful project, because she has always placed a special focus on animals and mountains, turning them into her key theme. We could not have found a more suitable artist for this Easter work of art. She has implemented the idea of the wildlife park in an authentic and artistically sensitive way," praised Florentine Rosemeyer.

The egg is decorated with ibex motifs. The work of art was created at Hotel Kempinski, Das Tirol: "The hotel director, Gerhard Bosse, kindly made the rooms available to us so that the egg could be painted in peace," said Florentine Rosemeyer. "This year's Easter project is also primarily about sustainable thinking in relation to our animals and nature, and that's a nice concept," says Mary-Ann Grimmenstein. She is not only beautifying Kitzbühel with her Easter egg, but also with her latest building project: We at "Upton" received permission last November to build "The Park Residences” apartment building with three elegant flats in a prime location at Kitzbühel city park," she told us with joy.

Also present: Nicoletta Plumm from Kitzbühel Tourism: "I am thrilled that so many people have lovingly contributed to the Easter tradition. Easter in Kitzbühel is a wonderful community project." Karina Toth led the programme and Aurach Mayor, Andreas Wurzenrainer, gave an emotional speech.


On behalf of the entire Wildlife Park team, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all those involved for their generous support and the appreciation shown to the Wildpark Aurach. The wonderful Easter egg can be admired at Aurach Wildlife Park from the end of April. Yours sincerely, Andrea, together with the entire Wildlife Park family, the Wildlife Park team and all 350 animals...

Fotos: (c) Kitzbühel Tourismus und Agentur TexTour