Vienna Climate Biennale 2025: Symbolism Over Substance
The second edition of the Vienna Climate Biennale, titled 'Unspeakable Worlds', opened in early April 2025 in Vienna. Curated by Sophie Haslinger, the main exhibition at Kunsthaus Wien focuses on seeds as a metaphor for humanity's relationship with the Earth, featuring 13 positions. The biennale includes works by Folke Köbberling (a decomposing SUV), Dominik Eulberg and Marcin Nowicki (bat ultrasound installation at the Prater ferris wheel), and Superflux (a post-anthropocene banquet setting at Weltmuseum Wien). However, the event has been criticized for lacking impact and relying on overused symbols like beached whales. City councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler defended the initiative, emphasizing its urgency. The biennale runs for only four weeks due to budget cuts compared to its 2024 inaugural edition.
Key facts
- Second Vienna Climate Biennale opened April 2025 in Vienna
- Title: 'Unspeakable Worlds'
- Main exhibition at Kunsthaus Wien curated by Sophie Haslinger
- 13 positions exploring seeds as metaphor
- Folke Köbberling's decomposing SUV sculpture
- Eulberg and Nowicki's bat ultrasound installation at Prater ferris wheel
- Superflux's 'The Craftocene' at Weltmuseum Wien
- Biennale duration reduced to four weeks due to budget cuts
- Veronica Kaup-Hasler defended the biennale's urgency
Entities
Artists
- Menashe Kadishman
- Joseph Beuys
- Joan Jonas
- Margot Pilz
- Allora and Calzadilla
- Folke Köbberling
- Dominik Eulberg
- Marcin Nowicki
- Maria Thereza Alves
- Marcia Migliora
- Romuald Hazoumè
- Superflux
- Sithara Pathirana
- Sophie Haslinger
- Pia Sirén
Institutions
- Vienna Climate Biennale
- Kunsthaus Wien
- Weltmuseum Wien
- Albertina
- Wiener Kunstakademien
- Captain Boomer Kunst-Kollektiv
- Nationalpark Donau-Auen
- Jutta-Steier-Park
Locations
- Vienna
- Austria
- Venice
- Italy
- Kassel
- Harlingen
- Netherlands
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Pompeii
- West Africa
- Donau-Auen
- Prater
- Karlsplatz
- Aspernbrücke
- Stubenbrücke