VIENNA ART WEEK 2011: REFLECTING REALITY

Various locations, Vienna, November 14 to 20, 2011.

Under the umbrella theme ‘Reflecting Reality’ in 2011 the Vienna Art Week extended its format through interdisciplinary strategies of communication concerned with the exchange between art and science and focusing on Vienna’s world reputation as city of psychoanalysis.

New aesthetic practices have developed with regard to Sigmund Freud’s classical psychoanalysis and his writings on art and culture. Art creates argumentation spaces for reflection and analysis on questions such as the current upheaval of political systems, the development of parallel worlds and the growth in “psycho-political”.

The Vienna Art Week creates a space to examine this theme through various positions. The extensive programme includes special exhibitions, a gallery weekend, expert discussions on subjects such as collecting, science and art and curatorial praxis; extended artist talks, public art installations, interventions and performances. The exhibition Reflecting Reality – The Reality Models of Art, curated by Robert Punkenhofer and freelance curator Ursula Maria Probst, was especially developed for this year at the Freud Museum. The exhibition focuses on site-specific installations that are located at the intersection between institution and public space and form various models of reality. The aesthetic and thematic modes of artistic access to reality were exemplified in media- and genre-crossing methods and in strategies to employ extraordinary materials and psychic principles of organisation. On show are installations by AND_i, Judith Fegerl, Gelitin, Roger Hiorns, Edgar Honetschläger, Luisa Kasalicky, Barbara Kapusta, Iwajla Klinke, Joseph Kosuth, Stephan Lugbauer, Manu Luksch, Elisabeth von Samsonow, SPAN and others.

The Reflecting Reality interview series, hosted by Robert Punkenhofer, aimed to answer the question of which psychological impetus can be found behind contemporary art. Art’s approaches to psychoanalysis and viceversa were addressed in the context of artist interviews and performances. Participants included: Iwajla Klinke (Germany), Behrang Samadzadegan (Iran), Manu Luksch (Austria/UK), Roger Hiorns (UK), Egar Honetschläger (Austria/Japan) and Joseph Kosuth (USA/Italy). Performances by Elisabeth von Samsonow (Germany/Austria) –Hypno Hippo Schizo Hoch Zeit – a dream action with Claudia Weinzierl and Wolfgang Staribacher and Stephan Lugbauer (Austria) – About me – A Szene.

More than 120 events and special programmes with more than 25.000 visitors in one week present the vivid variety of Vienna’s art scene and institutions.
For more information visit http://viennaartweek.com/2011

Photos © Nathan Murrell