KUNST – MILE G-RTEL

opening: Tuesday, September 23, 1997, 7 p.m.

Although the “Metropole Vienna” has several important museums and cultural institutions, “art in public space” is an almost unknown form of intervention to this city. An important art project on the Gürtel would therefore not only meet the intentions of city renewal but also help the city in repositioning itself in the international competition among cities.

The new Gürtel, focusing upon culture, emphasizes the existing architecture and puts the art projects in direct relationship to it. At the same time the art tries to create a link to the next century and millennium: by careful treatment of this outstanding urban area by the artists.

The project will be realised over the next several years. Dr. Ulrich Krempel, director of the Sprengel Museum in Hannover and curator of Kunstmile Gürtel invited for the first part (1997 – 1998) the following artists:

Vito Acconci
Stephan Balkenhol
Tony Cragg
Valie Export
Magdalena Jetelova
Per Kirkeby
Barbara Kruger
Mischa Kuball
Matt Mullican
Franz West

Press Release

KUNST – MILE GÜRTEL

The revitalization of the middle zone of the Viennese Gürtel is one of the central aims of the city planning department for the next years. The strategy is aimed at enhancing the area in order to attract investment as well as to improve the environment for its residents. The Gürtel shall become a livable shopping,- culture and recreation zone.

In the late 19th century the Vienna Stadtbahn line was planned by Otto Wagner, comprising a total of 30 stations. Originally, planned as a boulevard with trees similar to the Vienna Ringstrasse, the Gürtel has lost its potential functions as a green area for recreation and has become a true traffic belt.

The Gürtel in reality has a surprisingly high urban potential, though mainly unused, it is shaping our picture of the “urban Vienna” with all its special places.

Although the “Metropole Vienna” has several important museums and cultural institutions, “art in public space” is an almost unknown form of intervention to this city. An important art project on the Gürtel would therefore not only meet the intentions of city renewal but also help the city in repositioning itself in the international competition among cities.

The Gürtel as a boulevard links many districts of Vienna, but at the same time separates parts of the town. Changing from crowded places as the subway station to lonely areas along the subway line U6 one might get the feeling of “being on one’s way” but less likely the feeling of arriving anywhere.

Here starts the concept of Kunst – Mile Gürtel:

Public art can help to renew the Gürtel’s image by making it understandable as an urban area and by accentuating single spots.

Diversity of artistic media:
The artistic media for these interventions can be manyfold: from traditional sculptures to technical installations and designs in the realm of gardens, parks and fountains, to interventions with light and sound and colors.

The new Gürtel, focusing upon culture, emphasizes the existing architecture and puts the art projects in direct relationship to it. At the same time the art tries to create a link to the next century and millennium: by careful treatment of this outstanding urban area by the artists.

The Artists:
The project will be realised over the next several years. Dr. Ulrich Krempel, director of the Sprengel Museum in Hannover and curator of Kunstmile Gürtel invited for the first part (1997 – 1998) the following artists:

Vito Acconci
Stephan Balkenhol
Tony Cragg
Valie Export
Magdalena Jetelova
Per Kirkeby
Barbara Kruger
Mischa Kuball
Matt Mullican
Franz West

The financing of the Kunstmile Gürtel shall be guaranteed by private sponsoring. The most important companies of Vienna as well as art interested private persons are invited to donate one sculpture of the Kunstmile Gürtel. Several media have already agreed on supporting the engagement of these sponsors.

Links to some of the artist’s works

Vito Acconci
Thing Review
art in context
Exhibition at the Mattress Factory

Stephan Balkenhol
Biographie
Exhibition at Witte de with
Art in public space, Hamburg
Kunsthaus Bregenz

Tony Cragg
Biographie
Installation at the Olympic Summer Games 1996 in Atlanta
Virtual Sculpture Garden

Valie Export
Biographie
ARS ELECTRONICA 1988, Linz
artistguide
MuseumModerner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Vienna

Magdalena Jetelova
artistguide
Museum Ludwig, Köln

Per Kirkeby
artistguide

Barbara Kruger
Lonely hours
Exhibition in Melbourne
Remote Control, a MIT-Publication

Mischa Kuball
Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Vienna

Matt Mullican
Biographie (French)

Franz West
DIA ART West
Ausstellung at TRACTOR
Exhibition at ZWIRNER
Biographie