Vienna Modernism

In 1918, the lives of four key personalities of Austrian cultural history came to an end: the painters Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, the architect Otto Wagner and the universal artist Koloman Moser. The creativity of these and many other protagonists of Vienna Modernism in Vienna around 1900 will be celebrated in 2018.

The period around 1900 was one of the most exciting ever in Vienna. The Austro-Hungarian double monarchy oscillated between beauty and the abyss. Numerous innovations in art, literature, architecture, music, psychology, philosophy, science and society characterized "Vienna Modernism". Artists were the pioneers. They prised open the encrusted Habsburg monarchy and dealt with the failure of liberal politics after the great stock market crash of 1873 in their works. Revolution arose in all disciplines. Until the horrors of the First World War swept the globe - a first turning point. The second followed with Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938.

Klimt, Schiele, Wagner and Moser were four important representatives of this art and culture epoch. The works of Klimt and Schiele were groundbreaking and still achieve premium prices throughout the world. The Belvedere and the Leopold Museum own the worlds biggest collections of the two painters (including Klimt's "The Kiss" and Schiele's "Wally Neuzil"). Wagner's buildings – above all the Post Savings Bank – were not only lovely to look at but also trendsetting. And they are still in use today, as can be seen by the many Stadtbahn rail stations (today U4 and U6). Moser was the first graphic designer. At a time when nobody knew the term "logo", he had already developed one. The Wiener Werkstätte, of which he was a co-founder, revolutionized the world of design from 1903 onward.

Many other towering intellects from around the turn of the last century were also of great importance and will be honored in 2018. After all, what would Vienna by without Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis? Or without Arnold Schönberg's twelve-tone music? Josef Hoffmann and Adolf Loos left their mark on Vienna's architecture. Berta Zuckerkandl invited politicians and intellectuals to her salon. And Gustav Mahler dusted off the venerable Vienna Court Opera.

In 2018, numerous museums will therefore focus not only on the four men (who died in 1918) but also on other personalities. These institutions include the Belvedere, MAK – Austrian Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Art, Wien Museum, Leopold Museum, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Literature Museum, Hofmobiliendepot (Imperial Furniture Collection), Jewish Museum Vienna, Arnold Schönberg Center, Ernst Fuchs Museum, Wittgenstein House, the Austrian Friedrich and Liilian Kiesler Private Foundation, the Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien, the Theatre Museum, the House of Music as well as the Klimt Villa. In addition, many certified tour guides track down signs of Vienna Modernism.

And there are still many of them in Vienna, especially in the city's architecture. Otto Wagner's wonderful Church of St. Leopold, his houses on e Wienzeile and the nearby Secession by Joseph Maria Olbrich are masterpieces of Modernism; Adolf Loos' house on Michaelerplatz and Josef Hoffmann's villas on the city's edge are stunning examples of modern architecture.

The Wiener Werkstätte, which closed in 1932, is still evident in Vienna. Many of the products designed by the artists of those days are still made: Woka Lamps Vienna manufactures exclusive luminaires according to original designs. The Viennese glass and lighting manufacturer Lobmeyr has classics such as the series "B" drinking glass by Josef Hoffmann in its product range. The Augarten Porcelain Manufactory also continues to implement its designs, including the famous melon service. And the Vienna Silver Factory offers flatware services and dishes to designs by Hoffmann and flatware by Otto Prutscher. Information: www.viennesemodernism2018.info