Austria mourns the loss of Hermes Phettberg: a life full of courage and art

Austria mourns the loss of Hermes Phettberg: a life full of courage and art

Wien, Österreich - On December 19, 2024, Austria lost one of its most provocative and brave artists: Hermes Phettberg. He leaves a gap in the cultural sector, which was aptly described by City Councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler: "With Hermes Phettberg, Austria has lost one of the most unusual and courageous voices in its cultural and media landscape." His life's work as a performer, author and moderator was characterized by the challenge of social norms. Kaup-Hasler emphasized that Phettberg knew how to create space for being different and ambivalence with his art. It was particularly important to emphasize his ability to "put his finger on the sore points" while he always kept respect for the human.

a lasting legacy

Hermes Phettberg's extraordinary contribution to art was recognized in 2002 with the Prize of the City of Vienna for journalism. His brave and often vulnerable occurrence will be painfully missed in the Vienna Culture scene. While influential voices such as Kaup-Hasler complain about his loss, the numerous creative work he left is also reminded.

In another cultural context, a new monument was recently unveiled for the victims of the National Socialist persecution of homosexual people. The jury, which was responsible for this monumental project, consisted of a large number of experts, including artists and urban planners, in order to integrate the perspectives of the LGBTIQ community in the best possible way. This initiative shows the ongoing dialogue with the community and tries to create a space of commemoration and memory. As reported on team.com , this is an important step towards recognizing and appreciation of those who have been followed in dark times.