This is the first extensive solo exhibition dedicated to the visionary German radical artist Christoph Schlingensief (1960–2010) in Austria. At the 2000 Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) he addressed the xenophobic government policies of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) with his container artwork Please Love Austria – First Austrian Coalition Week and threw the entire city into turmoil with a mixture of reality and art. The exhibition presents that container action as well as further major works by the exceptional artist, including the installation Church of Fear (in which Schlingensief declared ‘believing in fear’ a dogma after the 11 September attacks), the political campaign Chance 2000 – Last Chance Party, film works from the Amazon for his Wagner production of The Flying Dutchman and the video art work The African Twin Towers. The exhibition shows how Schlingensief’s radically personal art – between provocation and faith in the arts – continues to irritate and inspire to this day.

A joint project of the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) | Free Republic Vienna, MAK – Museum für angewandte Kunst and Gropius Bau/Berliner Festspiele