The Language of Things

Vienna, 9th June , 2016
21er Haus
Museum of
Contemporary Art
Quartier Belvedere
Arsenalstraße 1
1030 Vienna, Austria
Museum Hours:
Wed: 11 am – 9 pm
Thu – Sun: 11 am – 6 pm
open on holidays
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Erwin Wurm, One Minute Sculpture, 1997/2005, Belvedere, Vienna © Bildrecht, Vienna, 2016
The Language of Things
Material Hi/Stories from the Collection
10th June, 2016 to 22nd January, 2017
The exhibition “The Language of Things – Material Hi/Stories from the Collection” is devoted to
the material aspect of contemporary art from June 10, 2016 to January 22, 2017. Material and
materiality are basic requirements conditions of artistic work. But time and again they have also
been focus and subject, if we consider, for example, the use of everyday or found objects in art.
Minimal art put an emphasis on the specifics of its often industrial materials, while Conceptual
art explored its own dematerialization. Contemporary artworks address these discourses as well
as the phenomena of digitization, reflecting the tensions between materiality and immateriality.
Featuring works by more than sixty artists from the Belvedere/21er Haus collection of
contemporary art and the Federal Art Archives, this exhibition highlights the thingness of the
exhibited objects in order to read between the lines of their material languages.
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In doing so, curators Axel Köhne and Luisa Ziaja link works from key international positions at
the museum as permanent loans, e.g., Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Robert Morris with current
works, mostly from local artists such as Sofie Thorsen, Brigitte Kowanz, Judith Fegerl, Sonia
Leimer, Anita Leisz, Christoph Weber, and Benjamin Hirte.
As Agnes Husslein-Arco, Director of the Belvedere and the 21er Haus states: “It is the 21er Haus’
fifth birthday in autumn of this year—time to celebrate and, of course, look back with pride but
also time to turn our gaze to current discourse and future developments. Constant expansion of
the collection is one of Belvedere’s core tasks. Works from the in-house collection will be
illuminated for the sixth time under the title “Material Hi/Stories.” An exciting discourse, which
aims to capture the dialogue between contemporary trends and earlier art currents. How
incredibly different artistic approaches can be in dealing with materials and the definition of
materiality is shown exemplarily in two core areas of the exhibition: one is a focus on the oeuvre
of Cornelius Kolig, and another on Anna Jermolaewa. Two artists, a man and a woman, who
represent different generations and very distinct approaches to this theme, and who deserve
great attention.”
Curators Axel Köhne and Luisa Ziaja explain: “Aspects and issues related to how artists deal with
certain materials, their characteristics, and changing connotations over time; how they relate to
crafts-based traditions, industrial modes of production, seemingly outdated techniques and
current technologies, recycling and DiY strategies, and how artists operate between virtual and
physical realities, constant digital – immaterial – presence and tactile – material – here and now?
were important in our approach to the theme.”
With works by Franz Amann, Carl Andre, John M Armleder, Richard Artschwager, Josef Bauer,
Thomas Baumann, Julien Bismuth, Andy Boot, Herbert Brandl, Gilbert Bretterbauer, Cäcilia
Brown/Wilhelm Klotzek, Andy Coolquitt, Andreas Duscha, Judith Fegerl, Robert Filliou, Dan
Flavin, Andreas Fogarasi, Kerstin von Gabain, Gelatin, Manuel Gorkiewicz, Julian Göthe, Franz
Graf, Eva Grubinger, Michael Gumhold, Robert F. Hammerstiel, Gregor Hildebrandt, Benjamin
Hirte, Anna Jermolaewa, Donald Judd, Barbara Kapusta, Jakob Lena Knebl, Roland Kollnitz,
Brigitte Kowanz, Susanne Kriemann, Sonia Leimer, Anita Leisz, Inés Lombardi, Constantin Luser,
Dorit Margreiter, Ralo Mayer, Adam McEwen, Robert Morris, Marlie Mul, Ulrike Müller, Walter
Obholzer, Lisa Oppenheim, Rudolf Polanszky, Rosa Rendl, Gerhard Richter, Valentin Ruhry, Fred
Sandback, Stefan Sandner, Stefanie Seibold, Tony Smith, Daniel Spoerri, Lucie Stahl, Rudolf
Stingel, Zin Taylor, Sofie Thorsen, Christoph Weber, Lois Weinberger, Franz West, Erwin Wurm,
Heimo Zobernig, and Franz von Zülow.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a diverse program of lectures, performance, and films
and by the second volume in the publication series on the collection, which was established on
the occasion of the last collection exhibition, “Flirting with Strangers.”
Cornelius Kolig – Organic
The first focus presentation shows works by Cornelius Kolig: The artist, born in 1942 in
Vorderberg (Carinthia) is among the great, uncompromising solitary figures in postwar
Austria. His works, which revolve around the human body, psyche, sexuality, death,
obsession, and taboos, make use of various materials. Kolig is non-hierarchical and
value-free in his use of Plexiglas, Polyester, metal, graphite, and also bodily fluids for
his art.
The exhibition “The Language of Things: Material Hi/Stories from the Collection” can be
seen from June 10, 2016 to January 22, 2017 at 21er Haus – Museum of Contemporary Art
(Quartier Belvedere, Arsenalstraße 1, 1030 Vienna). The first focus presentation,
“Cornelius Kolig – Organic” will run until October 9, 2016, followed by “Anna
Jermolaewa – Both White” beginning October 19, 2016.
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Catalogue of the Exhibition
© Belvedere, Vienna
The Language of Things. Material Hi/Stories from the Collection
Editors: Agnes Husslein-Arco, Axel Köhne, Luisa Ziaja
Graphic Design: Atelier Liska Wesle, Vienna / Berlin
Print and Binding: Gerin, Wolkersdorf
Pages: 120
190 x 240 mm, Softcover
German Edition
ISBN 978-3-903114-06-7
6 Euro
now available
belvedere.at/book-shop
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Art Education
Guided Tour of the Exhibition
Material Hi/Stories
Sundays and on Public Holidays | 4 pm
Attendance fee: 4 Euro (excl. admission) | Duration: 1 hour | no registration required
Curator-Guided Tour
The Language of Things
Wednesday, 29th June 2016 | 7 pm
Wednesday, 18th January 2017 | 7 pm
with Axel Köhne and Luisa Ziaja
Attendance free with valid ticket | registration required
Curator-Guided Tour
Organic by Cornelius Kolig
Wednesday, 14th September 2016 | 7 pm
With Axel Köhne
Attendance free with valid ticket | registration required
Talk with an Artist and Screening
Stefanie Seibold
Wednesday, 28th September 2016 | 6.30 pm
Attendance Fee: 3 Euro oder free with valid ticket
Blickle Kino at the 21er Haus
Registration required
Art Education & Visitors Service 21er Haus
Michaela Köppl, Head
+43 1 795 57-707 [email protected]
+ 43 1 79557-770
[email protected]
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Regular Information
Exhibition Title
The Language of Things
Material Hi/Stories from the Collection
Exhibits
over 200 by 67 artists
Curators
Axel Köhne and Luisa Ziaja
Exhibition Dates
10th June 2016 to 22nd January 2017
Venue
21er Haus
Museum of Contemporary Art
Quartier Belvedere, Arsenalstraße 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Museum Hours
Wednesday 11 am–-9 pm
Thursday through Sunday 11 am– 6 pm
Open on Public Holidays
Tickets
General Admission | 7 Euro
21er Haus Annual Ticket | 21 Euro
Reduced | 5.50 Euro
Under 18 | free
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