Steirischer Herbst Festival Confronts National Identity and Populism in Graz

The 2024 Steirischer Herbst arts festival, themed Horror Patriae, commenced at Neue Galerie Graz, delving into the more sinister sides of patriotism. Curator Ekaterina Degot emphasized issues of migration and displacement in the context of increasing xenophobia. Thomas Verstraeten's performance, Wanderlust Warenhaus (2024), juxtaposed traditional Austrian motifs with modern affluence. This year's festival coincided with Austria's legislative elections, where the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) emerged as the leading party. Various works, including Pablo Bronstein's architectural model and Jakub Jansa's video Pumpkinville (2024), interrogated national identity. Assaf Gruber's film Miraculous Accident (2024) also tackled themes of exile. Critics remarked on the festival's neglect of national identities while overlooking significant socio-economic concerns. Since its inception in 1968, Steirischer Herbst has maintained a politically engaged stance under Degot's direction since 2018.