Viennese art scene mourns the same way for gallery owners John Sailer (87)

Viennese art scene mourns the same way for gallery owners John Sailer (87)

Wien, Österreich - John Sailer, an important gallery owner and formative figure of the Viennese cultural landscape, died on Wednesday at the age of 87. His death was regretted by the City Councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler, who expressed her sympathy for the family and friends of the deceased. Sailer founded the Ulysses gallery in 1974, which was named after his favorite book and offered a platform for artists from the Austrian avant -garde from the start, including names such as Wolfgang Hollegha, Walter Pichler and Arnulf Rainer. Through his gallery, he managed to establish a real relationship between art and the audience, which shaped his work sustainably, so ots.at.

born as Hans Sailer on November 30, 1937 in Vienna, he spent his earliest childhood in Paris and New York after his parents fled from the Nazi regime. Despite his eventful origin, he never felt bitter and described himself as a "lucky child" and confronted the challenges of his life with a positive attitude. Sailer, son of Erna Sailer, a lawyer and diplomat, and Karl Hans Sailer, a journalist, showed an interest in art early on. He found his way into the art trade when he discovered the value of thonet chairlifts that were deposited for disposal. This marked the beginning of his career in the arts and crafts, which ultimately led to the foundation of his gallery, according to the information from Historywiki.GV.at.

The Gallery Ulysses and its exhibitions

The opening of the Ulysses gallery in November 1974 fell into a time when Vienna experienced a resurrection of the cultural scene. The first exhibition was a tribute to Monsignor Otto Mauer and showed works of prominent artists such as Joannis Avramidis, Bruno Gironcoli and Fritz Wotruba. Two years later, Gabriele Wimmer Wimmer became Sailer's business partner and the gallery moved to the attic on Opernrings 21, where she continued with exhibitions by Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. In 1992 Sailer expanded the gallery with additional rooms that were opened with an exhibition by Roy Lichtenstein. This development underlines its influence on international art and its ability to establish Vienna as an important art location.

In this context, it is worth noting that the Viennese art scene in the 1950s was strongly shaped by the influences of international currents, such as surrealism and abstraction. Sailer was part of this movement that encouraged artists to further develop their works and to experiment with innovative ideas. At a time when there was lacking art pulses in Vienna, galleries such as its space for departure and renewal, especially in a city in which the art business often stopped and the direct exchange of artists, critics, curators and gallery owners did not work. At this time, artists occupied important positions and significantly influenced the art events, according to schirn.de.

John Sailer's death is not only the loss of a single, but also of a segment of Vienna's art history that is not to be replaced. His merits and the tireless efforts to promote the avant -garde will be remembered for a long time. His gallery is viewed as an important part of the cultural heritage of Vienna, and the consequences of his work are still noticeable in the art scene.