November 2 - November 30, 2001
Walter Pichler
“The concept of the exhibition is based on an understanding of art that includes the fine arts in the classical sense as well as architecture and design and abolishes the borders between the different art disciplines.
Reflecting crossovers amongst the arts - as a phenomenon that has been noted internationally as being strongly present in the work of Austrian artists - positions are conveyed that illustrate the fluid transitions between the areas of painting, sculpture and architecture as well as the realms of the media, film, design, and fashion.
This approach yields entirely new results and, frequently, unexpected interpretations of traditional disciplines. This does not mean, however, that creators of art will not continue to consistently develop works of art specifically within one of these disciplines - painting, for example - and to bring forth contemporary positions. As requested by our Chinese hosts, we have dedicated ample attention to this aspect.
The phenomenon of crossover has already manifest in the architectural ideas of Hundertwasser, or, as in the fields of sculpture and computer art, in the fluid transitions to “objects for living“ - like Franz West’s chairs and Peter Kogler’s curtains - but also in the work of Lois Renner.
The adoption of new media by VALIE EXPORT has opened up new domains. Actionism, which has burst the traditional concept of art, is also reflected in objects and pictures.
The selection of exhibits is limited to works of the second half of the 20th century, with a particular focus on the development since the late eighties.
The internationally most recognized development in Austrian art in recent years has been in architecture, however. In this field, important contributions to a new understanding of architecture were made in the sixties through the works of Hollein and Pichler but also by Abraham and Domenig and, subsequently, by COOP Himmelb(l)au and Haus-Rucker-Co - transgressions into other territories of the arts and the new media.
In the exhibition, this symbiotic attitude amongst sculpture, architecture, design and drawing is manifested in the work of Walter Pichler, which represents an interface in this regard.
The central architectural theme that has been given prominence in the Shanghai exhibition - as a tribute to this fascinating location and its development - is the highrise building as an artistic sculptural object as developed in a specific Austrian approach, presented by recent realisations thru pictural documentation and by way of models made for this exhibition. The term “high rise“ may, of course, also be used to refer to a ski jump or a “horizontal“ highrise building.
Other presentations relate to key urban development areas in Vienna, including “Wien Mitte“, G-Town (Gasometer City) as well as “Donau-City“ and work on the theme done by university students.
Design - in its dialectic to architecture - is represented by chairs conceived by Austrian designers and, in the realm of fashion, by a creation named “Protector“ conceived by Wendy & Jim, avant-garde fashion designers.”
Hans Hollein
Oktober 2001
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
Hans Hollein Media Tower - Vienna
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
Massimiliano Fuksas - Wienerberg Twin Towers, Vienna
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
Coop Himmelb(l)au - Gasometer B
Galaxy Design
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
Professor Hans Hollein with daughter Mag. Lilli Hollein who is responsible for the extensive catalog.
The Shanghai Art Museum, designed in the 1920’s, has twelve exhibition halls and a surface area of more than 50,000 square meters. The exhibition “Austrian Contemporary Art, Architecture and Design” will take place in the Main Hall at street level.
Architecture:
Raimund Abraham (Austrian Culture Institut, New York), Coop Himmelb(l)au (SEG Apartment Tower, Vienna), Delugan-Meissl (Mischek Tower, Residential multi-storey building in Wienerberg, Vienna), AC/Domenig-Eisenköck-Peyker (Max-Mobil St. Marx, Vienna), Massimiliano Fuksas (Wienerberg Twin Towers, Vienna), Zaha Hadid (Bergisel Sprungschanze, Innsbruck), Henke/Schreieck (Zürich Kosmos Neuer Kaipalast, Vienna), Ernst Hoffmann (Konzernzentrale Strabag,Vienna Donaucity), Hans Hollein (Media Tower/Generali Tower/PORR Hollein/Wimmer), Wilhelm Holzbauer (Andromeda Tower, Vienna Donaucity), Heinz Neumann/Eric Steiner (Uniqa Tower, Ares Tower), NFOG Architekten (IZD Tower), Peich/Weber/Prodrecca (Millenium Tower).
Wien Mitte, City Tower Porr: Ortner+Ortner, Neumann+Steiner, Lintl+Lintl, G-Town: Rüdiger Lainer (Entertainment Center, Pleasuredome), Coop Himmelb(l)au (Gasometer B), Hans Hollein (Vectigal).
Rainer Pirker ARCHItexture team (KDAG Stadt 2000), Studenten projekte (Hochhäuser), Heinz Tesar (Museum Essl)
Art:
Siegfried Anzinger, Christian Ludwig Attersee, Erwin Bohatsch, Valie Export, Adolf Frohner, Rainer Ganahl, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Elke Krystufek, Kurt Kocherscheidt, Peter Kogler, Brigitte Kowanz, Maria Lassnig, Hermann Nitsch, Walter Obholzer, Walter Pichler, Arnulf Rainer, Gerwald Rochenschaub, Lois Renner, Hubert Scheibl, Eva Schlegel, Hubert Schmalix, Max Weiler, Franz West, Erwin Wurm, Heimo Zobernig.
Design:
EOOS/Matteograssi, Walter Pichler/Svoboda, Paolo Piva/Wittmann
Fashion:
Wendy & Jim
October 22, 2001
