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The critical projects dealing with the "Anniversary
Year 2005" necessarily are about the Second Republic
handling the Austrian Nazi history, the weak point of all
the anniversary events. Martin Strauß and Karl-Heinz
Ströhle complete this circle of projects: Their installation
"Schaufenster-Geschichte" ("Shop Window History")
examines the facts at the beginning of the year 2000, when
the FPÖ (Austrian Freedom Party), the party of Jörg
Haider, classified as a right wing extremist party, entered
into government. Thereby the international community of states
learned that, until today, political and ethical norms do
not exist in the same way in the former National Socialist
country Austria as they are assumed by leading German politicians.
It became apparent that Austria had never really delimitated
its National Socialist history. The formation of a coalition
with the FPÖ provoked strong protests and a diplomatic
quarantine towards Austria during several months.
For their project "Schaufenster Geschichte", Martin
Strauß and Karl-Heinz Ströhle composed sort of
international diary containing facts and discussions: Blown-up
copies of pages of Austrian and German newspapers, arranged
in shop windows, reflect the EU's indignation on the one hand.
On the other hand, they demonstrate, in a disillusioning way,
the national "Schulterschluss" (demonstration of
unity and closing of ranks) and the polemics which proclaimed
opposition towards the new government, using the term "Österreichvernaderung"
(defamation of Austria).
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Sticking newspaper on a shop window during the work of decoration
is usually an every-day sight, hardly noticed. Through triplication
or quadruplication, however, the newspaper articles become
independent objects and cause irritation, which carries the
spectator away into reading. Thus the shop becomes show case,
and an apparent cover of used paper becomes an upholder of
contents again. Beyond that, the presentation reminds of the
– hardly any longer used – show cases at the editorial
buildings in which newspaper editors presented their current
issues.
Round-table discussion: Tuesday, 4th October 2005, 7:30 p.
m.
Michael Frank (Süddeutsche Zeitung), Eric Frey (Der
Standard), Georg Hoffmann-Ostenhof (Profil), Robert Misik
(Journalist und Buchautor), Michael Prüller (Die Presse),
Presentation: Lorenz Gallmetzer (ORF)
Location: KUNSTHALLE Wien, project space Karlsplatz, Treitlstrasse
2, 1040 Vienna
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