FRANZ WEST
February 29 - March 13, 2000
 
 

 
 
On the front façade of the building the artists' association Secession has started a project with a work by Austrian artist Franz West, a project that gathers artistic statements by Austrian as well as international artists commenting the political situation in Austria. (Open letter by the board of the artists' association)
 
Franz West has changed the old and still valid motto of the Secession which is mounted permanently high above the entrance door ­ "To Art Its Time To Time Its Art" (coined by Austrian art critic Ludwig Hevesi) ­ into "To Art Its freedom party ..., To Time Its Art", thus referring to the current political circumstances. The second part of the work can be seen in the lobby of the Secession: a black coloured plinth with a little book (title: "Do Sing with us. The Most Beautiful Austrian Folk Songs"), edited by the fan club of ÖVP chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel.
 
The Secession, a private and independent artists' association, is one of Austria's leading institutions for contemporary art. The building is a famous landmark. Taking into account that its facade is one of the most photographed sites in Vienna, we are using it as a platform for critical artistic thought and expression. The right-hand wing of the façade has again and again been used in the history of the Secession for advertising purposes in that exhibition posters of the Secession were displayed on it. Now this wing is provided for various artistic thoughts.
 
Each project will be on view on the right-hand wing of the front façade on a transparent of 3.20 x 9 meters, produced by the company Beko, for two weeks , and will be documented and included in a final publication. This project is entirely funded by private individuals, and should run for half a year.
 
 
Project team: Matthias Herrmann, Sylvie Liska, Eleonora Louis