Experience the story behind Sissy, a sculpture in homage to Elisabeth Aloys
Sissy, 2025. Sculpture by Franziska and Mercedes Welte / NONOS, commissioned by Elizabeth Arthotel
Commissioned to mark the Elizabeth Arthotel’s fiftieth anniversary and Women's History Month 2026, Sissy honours the enduring legacy of the hotel’s founder, Elisabeth Aloys. Created by Austrian sister artists Mercedes and Franziska Welte / NONOS, the sculpture forms part of the hotel’s The Art of Legacy programme.
The Sculpture
Affectionately named after Elisabeth Aloys’s own nickname inspired by Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837–1898), Sissy weaves personal memory into a wider history of female influence. Through its engagement with form, light, and space, the sculpture reflects strength, presence, and continuity, standing as a tribute to Aloys’s role in the hotel and the region.
Clockwise from top: Elisabeth and Günther Aloys, Mirjam Aloys views Sissy, Mercedes and Franziska Welte / NONOS
The Artists
Reflecting on the commission, International Women’s Day and the Aloys’ family female legacy, Mercedes & Franziska Welte / NONOS say:
“As artists, we believe that giving form to untold stories is how we honour those who came before us. In creating Sissy, we wanted to reflect the strength of female presence and the importance of remembering those whose vision continues to shape the present. By honouring legacy, we gain a deeper understanding of our future.”
Mercedes and Franziska Welte, known collectively as NONOS, their collaborative practice has evolved since 2005. Beginning with small wire figures, their work has grown into life-size sculptures made from fibreglass, bronze, and carbon fibre.
Focusing on the female figure as both subject and structure, their work explores movement, sensuality, and individuality. They are known for bringing sculpture beyond traditional gallery spaces into public, commercial, and architectural settings.
Their work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale, Art Basel Miami, Art Miami, and Museum Stift Klosterneuburg. With Sissy, their internationally exhibited practice now finds a home in the heart of the Alps.