Cultum celebrates 50 years: anniversary exhibition on Josef Fink opened!

Cultum celebrates 50 years: anniversary exhibition on Josef Fink opened!

Graz, Österreich - On March 2, 2025, the Graz cultural center "Cultum" celebrated an impressive 50th anniversary, and the start did not leave anyone cold. With the opening of the newly designed exhibition rooms, the exhibition "Im Bann (s) of a large story" was launched, which is dedicated to the founding father Josef Fink (1941-1999). This retrospective brought about the artistic personality of Fink with his pictures, photographs and poems, more than 25 years after his death, literally to life. According to Johannes Rauchberger, the current head of the "cult", Fink had an unmistakable way of combining faith and art that deeply touches the audience. The opening evening took place in the minority hall, where more than 200 guests came together to hear the words of Jesuit Father Friedhelm Mennekes about Josef Fink, which he praised as a "man of unusual depth", whose belief gave him stability.

a precious heir

The exhibition shows all the work phases of fins for the first time, from its early illustrations to abstract photography. His watercolors of the Holy Land and other landscapes caught in its unmistakable formal language are also part of the work show. Elisabeth Koller, the niece of the artist and together with Rauchberger, was responsible for the exhibition, emphasized that Fink's art is not only part of the past, but should also act as a lively inspiration for the future. Thanks to their effort and close coordination, over 1000 works were secured and handed over to the "cult", the institution that he himself founded in 1975, as joseffink.at reported in detail.

For the anniversary year, the "cult" is planning a number of other events, including the "3rd Blumenberg Days" at the end of March, which should come up with an international event on the subject of "Matthew Passion". In May, the Finnish artist Maaria Workkala is a guest with her work, followed by an anniversary exhibition in September, which will mark a transformation to a Museum of Contemporary Art and Religion. These developments underline the central role of "cult" as a place of encounter between culture, art and religion, supported by the diocese of Graz-Seckau and the city of Graz.