Near Polotsk in Belarus, there are several dozen bodies of water with a regular circular shape. They are holy lakes, mystical places of worship of the pagan tribe of Krivichi, who inhabited these areas in early medieval times. For them, a circle symbolised a closed cycle of the transmigration of souls – rebirth and perpetual existence – therefore their temples were usually set up as circular structures. »
Carl Lohse created an œuvre that was as brilliant as it was short‑lived. From the autumn of 1919 to the spring of 1921, the expressionist painter experienced real creative noise, and by 1920, was feted for his great promise, but gave up his artistic existence for a life as a tram conductor and is still seen as an insider tip: Carl Lohse (1895–1965), from Hamburg, is one of the mavericks of modernist art. His early works are to be seen in the Albertinum at an exhibition put together in cooperation with the Ernst Barlachhaus in Hamburg. For the first time, the show highlights the main features of the artist from public and private collections from Eastern and Western Germany. »
Péter Korniss is one of the greatest masters of contemporary Hungarian photography, a recipient of the “Artist of the Nation” award, the Kossuth Prize and the Joseph Pulitzer Memorial Prize. His work centres on documenting the disappearing lifestyle of peasants in Hungary and Transylvania. The series of images that are featured in this exhibition at the Hungarian National Gallery, titled Continuous Memory, concentrate on the most important aspects of his entire career. »
24 June 1937 was just a regular day; there was nothing exceptional that day in the city’s history. However, this Lviv of everyday life best demonstrates the uniqueness of the city and its place on the map of 20th century modernity. The exhibition is a comprehensive presentation of the achievements of Lviv architects, shown against the backdrop of other areas of the city’s cultural life. Based on public and private collections from Poland and Ukraine, the exhibition is a diverse portrait of a Modernist city and highlights the role of Lviv as a centre of modernity during the times of the Second Polish Republic. »
Ziemowit Szczerek’s Intermarium is both a symptom and a diagnosis of the exhaustion of nationalistic language. While describing the political situation and public sentiments in Central Europe, the author actually uses the exact same categories he identifies as the source of problems, while wanting to distance himself from it. Watching the failure of the undertaking resembling Baron Munchausen’s idea of dragging himself out of the swamp by his hair paradoxically becomes the greatest benefit from reading this book. »
Jeanne Mammen (1890–1976) gained a reputation beyond Berlin as a chronicler of life in the city during the 1920s. Her watercolours and drawings made a distinctive contribution to urban art in that glittering decade with its forceful social contrasts. But Jeanne Mammen left far more to posterity than this, namely her œuvre of seventy years, including paintings and drawings with discontinuities that graphically express the political and artistic upheavals of the 20th century. »
How to effectively promote events in the information overload culture? Unlike their counterparts in the business world, cultural institutions and event organisers rarely use data to underpin their operations and decision making. What could we learn from them about the event goers? »
Anton Kolig (1886–1950) is among the most eminent Austrian painters from the first half of the 20th century. He was a prominent representative of the dynamic figural painting that was typical of his time. His works are characterised by a masterly energetic hand and vibrantly luminous colours. The main themes of Kolig’s paintings were portraits and figural allegories. The presentation at the Leopold Museum is the first comprehensive solo exhibition of works by Anton Kolig to be held in Vienna in over 50 years. The Leopold Museum is especially well placed to host such an exhibition, as it houses the most comprehensive collection of works by the artist in a museum with more than 20 paintings. The presentation will feature approximately 100 works by Kolig, including 70 paintings and 30 works on paper. »
At the turn of the 20th century, the multi-ethnic realm of the Habsburg Monarchy experienced a lively exchange of art and culture between Vienna, its centre, and the main cities of the empire such as Zagreb. This exchange was very significant for the development of Croatian art during this time. In the exhibition, the connections and points of reference are presented through key works of Austrian and Croatian artists.
The Graphic Cabinet will present a cycle of pastels by one of the most original artists active in the Czech region during the last third of the 19th century. Pirner in his Mythological Misalliances fuses various influences – the sen‑ suality and eroticism of Mánes, the fairy‑tale romanticism of Moritz von Schwind and the decorativism of Hans Makart. The individual paintings of the cycle illustrate the emotional intersections between various fantastic and mythological creatures, and their expression oscillates between naturalism and decadence. »
