Herbert Brandl Selected for 29th Safety Curtain at Vienna State Opera, 2026/2027 Season
Herbert Brandl has been appointed as the 29th artist for the Safety Curtain series at the Vienna State Opera, a project that has been ongoing since 1998. His expansive blue-and-white artwork is set to be showcased in the 2026/2027 season. A selection panel featuring Daniel Birnbaum, Bice Curiger, and Hans-Ulrich Obrist chose Brandl, whose painting draws inspiration from space exploration and the 'overview effect.' The Safety Curtain initiative commenced in the 1998/1999 season with an installation by Kara Walker. Renowned artists such as Anselm Kiefer, Joan Jonas, and David Hockney have also participated. The curtains are displayed for an entire season, allowing three viewing opportunities per performance, fostering dialogue on art, spectacle, and performance.
Key facts
- Herbert Brandl is the 29th artist in the Safety Curtain series at the Vienna State Opera.
- The 2026/2027 season curtain by Brandl is a massive blue-and-white work.
- The jury selecting Brandl included Daniel Birnbaum, Bice Curiger, and Hans-Ulrich Obrist.
- The Safety Curtain series began in the 1998/1999 season with Kara Walker.
- Curator Cathérine Hug links Brandl's painting to space exploration and the Blue Marble.
- The curtain is visible before performances, during intermissions, and after the show.
- Artists who have participated include Anselm Kiefer, Joan Jonas, Cao Fei, Pipilotti Rist, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and David Hockney.
- The project is conceived by museum in progress and dates from 1998 to ongoing.
Entities
Artists
- Herbert Brandl
- Kara Walker
- Anselm Kiefer
- Joan Jonas
- Cao Fei
- Pipilotti Rist
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- David Hockney
- Nancy Spector
- Bice Curiger
- Daniel Birnbaum
- Hans-Ulrich Obrist
- Cathérine Hug
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Institutions
- museum in progress
- Vienna State Opera
- designboom
Locations
- Vienna
- Austria