ZONE1 2024
Highlights from ZONE1 2024, Curated by Bruno Mokross
Since 2015, the popular special section ZONE1 has spotlighted emerging artistic talents connected to Austria. The showcase featured ten solo exhibitions exploring why international artists are drawn to Vienna and how the city’s unique conditions shape their creative output.
Mokross emphasized Vienna’s appeal, pointing to affordable living, robust government support, a thriving creative ecosystem, and a stable, high-quality lifestyle—factors that make the city a magnet for artists. Through the works of ten artists under 40, ZONE1 examined themes such as the contrast between those who stay and those who leave, the rejection of the hustle-centric ethos of other art capitals, and the reciprocal relationship between artists and their environments.
ZONE1 took place with the kind support of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport (BMKOES).
Minda Andrén, with Zeller van Almsick, crafted intricate compositions from collected imagery, questioning the overlap of meaning in digital and physical media.
fiebach, minninger showed Eliza Ballesteros’ recontextualized cultural symbols that interrogate traditions, power dynamics, and societal practices.
City Galerie Wien presented Albert Dietrich, who combined salvaged materials with painting to create timeless, mixed-media installations.
Sarah Fripon, showing with COMMUNE, collaged elements from digital and analog imagery, exploring societal power structures and everyday documentation.
3+1 Arte Contemporânea presented Evy Jokhova’s multidisciplinary artworks that connect architecture, politics, and anthropology.
Nanna Kaiser, with Shore Gallery, blurred the boundaries between painting and sculpture, reflecting on capitalism’s effects on domestic spaces.
In his presentation, Alex Macedo (GIANNI MANHATTAN) drew from still-life traditions, using light and shadow to create metaphysical oil paintings on copper.
Galerie Ernst Hilger took part with Noushin Redjaian, who examined symbolic language and time, inspired by her heritage in carpet restoration. The beautiful booth earned the artist-gallery duo the VCC x viennacontemporary Collectors Prize dedicated to an emerging artist of ZONE1.
Robert Sebastian Schachinger, showing with Windhager von Kaenel, integrated performance, sound, and sculpture to navigate societal constructs and physical experience.
Last but not least, Georg Thanner, shown by house of spouse, explored narrative possibilities and limitations in painting, often addressing outdated artistic practices.
About ZONE1
Since its inception in 2015, ZONE1 has championed young artists who have lived, studied, or worked in Austria, serving as a springboard for careers in the international art world. Supported by Austria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Civil Service, and Sport (BMKOES), this year’s edition upheld its reputation as a vital platform for showcasing innovative voices.With its mix of compelling artwork and a focus on Vienna’s unique role in fostering creativity, ZONE1 continued to inspire dialogue about the intersection of art, culture, and place.
About the Curator
Bruno Mokross, an artist, curator, and software developer based in Vienna, is a key figure in the local art scene. As a founder of the Independent Space Index and organizer of its festival, Mokross continues to contribute to Vienna’s vibrant cultural landscape.
Images: Niko Havranek, kunst-dokumentation.com.