Demokratie leben

The Austrian State Treaty not only reaffirms the rejection of National Socialism. The State Treaty also contains a clear commitment to modern democracy, human rights and the rights of ethnic groups. Even though we have now succeeded in forming a viable government of reasonable forces following the National Council elections, the political discourse in our society continues to be increasingly shaped by neoliberal tendencies and authoritarian narratives. We want to counter this and use the voice of art to remind people how the majority of the population in Austria wants to live. 70% of people in our country want peaceful, respectful coexistence and a cosmopolitan climate of diversity for our living together now and in the future! Practiced values such as tolerance, equal opportunities for minorities and the freedom of art should continue to have a high priority and be protected and defended in our democracy.

For this reason, Gewista and the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna have joined forces to launch a campaign with artistically designed subjects on various digital media, which will accompany the public in their everyday lives and encourage them to reflect, send a strong signal for democracy and remind them how we want to live together in this country.

Six graduates were selected from an invited competition by a jury of experts to present their submitted subjects on the digital City Lights in Vienna from July 1 throughout the summer, as well as on the web and on all social media channels of the Academy and Gewista:

The subject of artist Charlotte Gash, for example, creates a queer-feminist library based on the motto “Knowledge is power”, whose selected book titles often speak for themselves. Pille-Riin Jaik Borders is about the many physical and cultural boundaries in our society. Anna Khodorkovskaya's picture is a direct protest against the exclusion of many people living in Austria from the right to vote. Jojo Gronostay photographed the hands of street vendors in Barcelona, who can instantly gather their laid-out goods with strings, and has exaggerated their gestures in a mannerist manner. Julia S. Goodman points out in her work that any image, identity or idea can be considered dangerous or even propaganda and that art and freedom of expression must be protected.

The project was created as an activity within the framework of Academy | Art | Public Sphere, an overarching, internal committee whose program promotes engagement with different urban publics, with diverse addressees and actors. With this focus, the academy characterizes its understanding of artistic practice - such as interventions in public space, interventions as well as actionist and activist art forms - and their mediation, academic work and university policy profiling. We are delighted to have found a perfect cooperation partner for the Demokratie leben initiative in Gewista.

A second phase of the project with Gewista is planned for fall/winter with an open call aimed at all students, teaching staff and alumni of the Academy.

Artists:
Charlotte Gash, Bedroom, 2025
Julia S. Goodman, They Might Not All Agree, 2025
Jojo Gronostay, Untitled, 2025
Pille-Riin Jaik, Borders, 2025
Anna Khodorkovskaya, Paradies ohne Wahlrecht, 2025
Stine Ølgod, Look in/Look out, 2025

Concept and project management:
Claudia Kaiser, Academy | Art | Public Sphere

Jury:
Franz Solta, Managing Director Gewista
Johan Hartle, Rector
Ingeborg Erhart, Vice Rector for Art and Teaching
Barbara Horvath, Curator and Art historian, specializing in contemporary art and art in public space
Alistair Thompson, Executive Creative Director at Demner, Merlicek & Bergmann
Karin Schönhofer, Corporate Communications Gewista
Claudia Kaiser, Academy | Art | Public Sphere

Graphic design:
Beton