Vienna and the Fair
Our fellow member Dmitry Aksenov, upon whose invitation we organized our journey, remains deeply involved with Viennacontemporary. He and his wife Valentina invited us to the grandest hotel in Vienna, the Sacher, for a welcome dinner upon our arrival. In the meticulously decorated Salon Metternich, they both spoke from the heart of their gratitude to our Board for coming to visit. We were honored to be their guests, and it was the perfect start to a wonderfully convivial voyage.
ViennaContemporary
The impetus for our visit to Vienna, we were thrilled to visit Viennacontemporary, an annual art fair held in the Austrian capital with a distinctive emphasis on contemporary art from Central and Eastern Europe. Unlike broader art fairs, Viennacontemporary provides a concentrated platform for artists and galleries from this region to showcase their work. The fair encourages dialogue and collaboration within the artistic community, making it a unique event where we could discover diverse and evolving art scenes specific to Europe’s East. Taking place in the gorgeous Kursalon, we were welcomed not only for a private pre-opening tour, but also a special breakfast on the terrace.
That evening, Dmitry invited us to the Vienna State Opera to see Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito before our lively dinner at the Hotel Bristol. The Austrians surely know their way around fine dining.
Lastly, I wanted to take a moment to highlight one of the galleries we visited. Established in 1971 by Ursula Krinzinger, Krinzinger Gallery holds a significant place in Vienna's art landscape. Over the years, it has become a crucial player in shaping the city's contemporary art scene. The gallery has been a platform for both emerging and established artists, contributing to the vibrant cultural dialogue in Austria. On display while we visited were two exhibitions, one by Angela de la Cruz and another by Otto Peine.
