Anselm Kiefer Designs 26th Safety Curtain for Vienna State Opera

German artist Anselm Kiefer (born 1945 in Donaueschingen) has been selected to create the 26th edition of the Safety Curtain at the Vienna State Opera. The project, initiated in 1998 by Museum in progress and the opera house, transforms the theater's curtain into a contemporary art space. A jury comprising Daniel Birnbaum, Bice Curiger, and Hans Ulrich Obrist chose Kiefer, who will present his work "Solaris"—inspired by Stanisław Lem's 1961 science fiction novel of the same name. The 176-square-meter piece is printed on plastic mesh and attached to the curtain with magnets, making it visible before performances, during intermissions, and after shows. When the curtain rises and falls, Kiefer's creation becomes the focal point, turning the opera house into a large gallery. The work will be on view during performances until the end of June 2024.