Fatima Hellberg's Antipopulist Curatorial Program at Mumok
Fatima Hellberg, among the youngest museum directors in Europe, has unveiled her first program at the Mumok – Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien in Vienna. This initiative includes two exhibitions: 'Terminal Piece,' co-curated with Lukas Flygare, which is based on the museum's collection, and 'Figure of the Child,' co-curated with Manuela Ammer, featuring Tolia Astakhishvili. 'Terminal Piece' showcases 400 artworks organized into four acts, beginning with Kate Millett's 1972 installation, marking Hellberg's initial acquisition. The exhibition, spanning five floors, prioritizes formal precision and spatial relationships over educational approaches. Act 1 highlights Millett alongside other artists, Act 2 presents intimate pieces, and Act 3 features 'Leviathan' (2012) along with works by Jean Fautrier and Magdalena Abakanowicz.
Key facts
- Fatima Hellberg became director of Mumok in Vienna, one of Europe's youngest museum directors of a major institution.
- Hellberg's inaugural program includes two exhibitions: 'Terminal Piece' and Tolia Astakhishvili's 'Figure of the Child'.
- 'Terminal Piece' is co-curated by Hellberg and Lukas Flygare, featuring 400 works from the collection plus loans and new commissions.
- The exhibition is structured in four acts, starting with Kate Millett's 1972 installation 'Terminal Piece'.
- Millett's work was Hellberg's first acquisition as director.
- The prologue was designed by scenographer Anna Viebrock.
- Artists in the prologue include Daniel Spoerri, Paul Thek, Dieter Roth, Rudolf Schwarzkogler, and Rosmarie Trockel.
- Act 1 includes works by Megan Plunkett, Melanie Counsell, Miroslav Tichý, and Koby Adi.
- Act 2 features Louis Goodman, Marc Kokopeli, and Elisabeth Subrin's film 'Swallow' (1995).
- Act 3 includes Verena Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor's 'Leviathan' (2012), Jean Fautrier, and Magdalena Abakanowicz.
- The curatorial approach rejects the educational turn, focusing on formal precision and spatial relations.
- Hellberg's program emphasizes art's ability to speak through form, material, and relationships rather than pedagogical or identity-based frameworks.
Entities
Artists
- Fatima Hellberg
- Tolia Astakhishvili
- Manuela Ammer
- Lukas Flygare
- Kate Millett
- Anna Viebrock
- Daniel Spoerri
- Paul Thek
- Dieter Roth
- Rudolf Schwarzkogler
- Rosmarie Trockel
- Megan Plunkett
- Melanie Counsell
- Miroslav Tichý
- Koby Adi
- Louis Goodman
- Marc Kokopeli
- Elisabeth Subrin
- Verena Paravel
- Lucien Castaing-Taylor
- Jean Fautrier
- Magdalena Abakanowicz
- Leander Schönweger
Institutions
- Mumok – Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien
- Bonner Kunstverein
- MuseumsQuartier
Locations
- Vienna
- Austria
- Europe
- Sweden