CONTEXT 2024
The New Section Explored Overlooked and Influential Artists
viennacontemporary 2024 marked the debut of CONTEXT, a new section curated by art advisor and curator Pernilla Holmes. The special section at the fair featured nine solo exhibitions spotlighting artists from the late 20th century, many of whom were previously overlooked, while others had a significant impact on Austria’s contemporary art scene.
Holmes emphasized the evolving global art community, noting that art history is increasingly being examined through a more inclusive lens. “Barriers to accessing art are falling, and important artists who were once overlooked due to gender, ethnicity, or location are finally getting the recognition they deserve,” she states.
Spotlight on Female and International Artists
Six of the nine featured artists were women, many of whom developed avant-garde and performative practices that challenged traditional ideas of femininity and reshaped perceptions of female desire. Their works often confronted the boundaries of what male artists traditionally defined as “high art.”
Additionally, CONTEXT highlighted artists pioneering contributions to art history. Techniques like collage and abstraction, now staples in contemporary art, were championed by these artists early in their careers.
Kosara Bokšan | Gallery RIMA: The Serbian artist and founding member of the Zadar Group transitioned from realism to abstraction and symbolism, consistently experimenting with movement and color. Her work was featured in major solo exhibitions across Europe, with a significant retrospective held in 2001 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Belgrade.
Orshi Drozdik | Einspach & Czapolai Fine Art: A Hungarian visual artist based in New York, Drozdik emerged as a leading figure in Hungarian conceptual art and international feminist art. Her performances, such as Nude Model (1977), critique gender inequality and explore the male gaze by using her own body as a medium.
Inge Dick | Sturm & Schober: An Austrian film and photo artist, Dick is renowned for her exploration of light and its visual representation through photography. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Tate Modern in the 2018 exhibition Shape of Light.
Zsuzsi Ujj | acb Gallery: A Hungarian artist from Budapest’s underground art scene, Ujj’s photography, ceramics, and performance art critique stereotypical female roles and reflect the transition of Hungary’s cultural landscape during the 1980s.
Max Weiler | W&K – Wienerroither & Kohlbacher: Over his 70-year career, the Tyrolean painter transformed landscapes and nature into abstract compositions. His public commissions include frescoes and murals in Innsbruck and Linz, and he represented Austria at the 1960 Venice Biennale.
Arnulf Rainer | Galerie Ruberl: A pioneer of Art Informel, Rainer’s textured, meditative abstractions have earned him international recognition. He represented Austria at the 1980 Venice Biennale, and his works are housed in major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum.
Vlasta Delimar | galerie michaela stock: The Croatian performance artist uses her body to explore female sexuality and challenge societal gender roles. Her performances often incorporate traditional feminine symbols like lace and veils to question societal norms.
André Verlon | Kunsthandel Hieke: Born Willy Verkauf, Verlon was an Austrian artist best known for his experimental collages that blended influences from Cubism and photomontage. His politically charged works were featured in MoMA’s 1961 exhibition The Art of Assemblage.
Kiki Kogelnik | Galerie bei der Albertina Zetter: An Austrian artist historically associated with Pop Art, Kogelnik developed a distinctive style that combined vibrant colors, geometric compositions, and futuristic representations of the female body. Her work has been exhibited in institutions such as Kunsthalle Krems and the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere.
About the Curator: Pernilla Holmes has been the Director of Wedel Art since 2010, leading numerous exhibitions and cultural projects with prominent artists such as Theaster Gates, Shara Hughes, and Frank Bowling. With an MA from the Courtauld Institute, Holmes has written extensively for publications like the Financial Times and ARTnews and has hosted lectures and panel discussions on topics such as emerging trends in collecting and overlooked artists in the art world.
Images: Niko Havranek, kunst-dokumentation.com