Orlan and Elisabeth von Samsonow Open Vienna Art Week 2016
The 12th edition of Vienna Art Week opened with a talk by French artist Orlan and artist-philosopher Elisabeth von Samsonow on the theme 'Seeking Beauty'. Orlan, known for surgically altering her body in the 1990s, stated that ideal beauty bores her and that she seeks surprise. Von Samsonow, a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, described beauty as a protuberance and a moment of splendor where comedy and depth intersect. The week features over 200 events, including a posthumous retrospective of Peter Dressler at Kunst Haus Wien, an exhibition by Nasan Tur, and shows by Francis Alÿs and Avery Singer at Secession. A special project curated by Marcello Farabegoli Kucsko, 'The Beauty of Intellectual Property', explores art as intellectual property.
Key facts
- Orlan and Elisabeth von Samsonow opened the 12th Vienna Art Week.
- The theme of the 2016 edition is 'Seeking Beauty'.
- Orlan is known for surgically altering her body in the early 1990s.
- Elisabeth von Samsonow is a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.
- Vienna Art Week includes over 200 events.
- A posthumous retrospective of Peter Dressler is at Kunst Haus Wien.
- Nasan Tur's works reflect social conditions.
- Francis Alÿs and Avery Singer are exhibiting at Secession.
Entities
Artists
- Orlan
- Elisabeth von Samsonow
- Peter Dressler
- Nasan Tur
- Francis Alÿs
- Avery Singer
- Marcello Farabegoli Kucsko
Institutions
- Vienna Art Week
- Kunst Haus Wien
- Secession
- Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Locations
- Vienna
- Austria