Viennacontemporary Explained

viennacontemporary[1] is an international fair for contemporary art in Vienna, Austria. From 2015 to 2020 it took place annually in the fourth week of September at the Marx Halle, located in St. Marx, a part of Vienna's third district. In 2021, the fair took place at Neue Alte Post in Vienna. Since 2022, viennacontemporary regularly takes place in September in Kursalon Vienna in Stadtpark in the center of Vienna. Besides its focus on Central- and Eastern Europe,[2] [3] [4] viennacontemporary presents international and Austrian galleries showcasing young and established positions of contemporary art.[5]

The art fair is accompanied by a series of supporting events, which take place in cooperation with Austrian museums and other art institutions and aim to promote and strengthen Vienna's importance as a center for contemporary art and culture.[6] [7] [8]

Every year, viennacontemporary attracts several thousand visitors, including many international stakeholders of the art world. In 2023 viennacontemporary takes place from September 7-10 in Kursalon Vienna.

Background

In 2012, the team surrounding chairman of the Board Dmitry Aksenov,[9] managing director Renger van den Heuvel, and the two artistic directors Christina Steinbrecher-Pfandt and Vita Zaman organized VIENNAFAIR, a fair for contemporary art in Vienna. In 2014, Vita Zaman left the team. In 2015 the fair rebranded as viennacontemporary and moved to Marx Halle.[10] Christina Steinbrecher-Pfandt served as artistic director from 2015 to 2018.[11] In 2019, the fair appointed Johanna Chromik as the new artistic director.[12]

In 2021, Boris Ondreička followed as the fair's new artistic director.[13] [14]

In April 2022, it was announced that Dmitry Aksenov will lay down his position as Chairman of the Board.[15]

Location

Built in 1865 in Italian Neo-Renaissance style, Kursalon Vienna is one of the most impressive buildings in the inner city of Vienna. Its magnificent halls provide a grand setting for contemporary art, highlighting Vienna's unique interplay of a historic legacy and a thriving young creative scene. The classical building underscores the fair's function as a networking platform that brings together tradition and progression, East and West, as well as art enthusiasts, selected galleries and renowned art experts from around the world for a brilliant week in the name of contemporary art. For the guests of viennacontemporary, the new venue in the heart of the city offers a unique, enjoyable art experience due to its proximity to many great galleries, renowned museums, charming cafés, important cultural institutions, and architectural highlights of the Austrian capital.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: viennacontemporary. www.viennacontemporary.at. en-US. 26 January 2017.
  2. News: Vienna Looks East for Fine Art. Karasz. Palko. 13 October 2015. The New York Times. 0362-4331. 30 January 2017.
  3. Web site: Forbes.com: viennacontemporary Leads Austria‘s Cultural Resurgence. 29 September 2016.
  4. News: Look east: viennacontemporary brings 112 galleries to Marx Halle Art Wallpaper* Magazine. Magazine. Wallpaper*. 23 September 2016. Wallpaper*. 26 January 2017.
  5. News: Viennacontemporary Showcases Austria's New Generation Of Rising Artists. Binlot. Ann. Forbes. 5 January 2018. en.
  6. News: Viennacontemporary's Latest Edition Finds the City Attracting a New Creative Class. Kats. Anna. 22 September 2016. Artsy. 26 January 2017.
  7. News: artnet Asks: Christina Steinbrecher-Pfand on the Success of viennacontemporary artnet News. 7 September 2017. artnet News. 5 January 2018. en-US.
  8. Web site: Why Vienna Is Cooler Than You Think: A Contemporary Art Guru’s Guide to the City. Vogue. en. 30 January 2019.
  9. Web site: Russian investor: "The Most Challenging Thing That Will Affect the Arts Industry is the Blockchain". 1 October 2018. TrendingTopics.at Bulgaria. en-US. 30 January 2019.
  10. Web site: Vienna Fair Rebrands as Vienna Contemporary. 15 December 2014. artnet News. en-US. 30 January 2019.
  11. Web site: Christina Steinbrecher-Pfandt Apollo 40 Under 40 Europe The Business. 5 September 2018. Apollo Magazine. en-US. 30 January 2019.
  12. Web site: Johanna Chromik Named Artistic Director of Vienna Contemporary. www.artforum.com. en-US. 30 January 2019.
  13. Web site: Boris Ondreička. 2022-02-09. BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors. en.
  14. Web site: 2021-08-25. A Conversation with the New Artistic Director of the viennacontemporary — Boris Ondreička. 2022-02-09. Contemporary Lynx - print and online magazine on art & visual culture. en-US.
  15. News: Ohne russische Beteiligung: Viennacontemporary stellt sich neu auf . de . FAZ.NET . 2022-05-11 . 0174-4909.