Art in resistance: Monuments of violence reinterpreted in Vienna

Art in resistance: Monuments of violence reinterpreted in Vienna

The Secession in Vienna currently presents several captivating exhibitions that deal with current social issues. In the main exhibition "Zeit im Bild" by Rochelle Feinstein, an archaic picture of today's world is designed by lively prints and paintings. Feinstein's works that have been created for over four decades are noticing modern society and, among other things, shows the United States' two -party system in a kaleidoscope -like color spectacle. Its art combines objects of pop culture with critical reflection, such as in her series "Red Dawn", which is reminiscent of a dystopian action film. The art exhibition is open until February 23, 2025, as the Secession reports.

between power and memory

Ali Cherri, an artist originally from Beirut, focuses on a critical examination of damaged monuments in the lower gallery with “How I am Monument”. His wooden miniature reproductions are reminiscent of monuments that were damaged in the course of social unrest such as Arab Spring or the Black-Lives-Matter movement. Particularly noteworthy is the Viennese Karl Lueger monument, the base of which is represented in the exhibition, while the characters are missing, which opens up space for a new perspective. The topicality of this topic is tragic through the recent events in Lebanon, in which Cherri's parents died during an Israeli attack, as from the Kleine Zeitung was communicated.

The graphics work by Beatriz Santiago Muñoz in the upper gallery surprise with a humorous approach to the topic of nonsense and absurdity. With its pseudodocumentary films, Muñoz reflects the culture of the "Jitanjáforas", invented words that present the lightness and charm of Caribbean traditions. A sermon by St. Antonius of Padua is expressed in fish, which stimulates the audience for a playful reflection. These multifaceted exhibitions invite visitors to creatively question and reinterpret the current social challenges.