This retrospective exhibition explores the work of Hans Haacke, a pioneer of political conceptual art. It covers his artistic journey from early explorations of physical systems to his critical engagement with socio-political structures, highlighting his influence on art and society.
Hans Haacke (b. 1936) is a seminal figure in political conceptual art, known for his critical institutional critique and his profound influence on subsequent generations of artists. This retrospective exhibition, spanning from 1959 to the present, offers a comprehensive overview of his oeuvre, beginning with his early explorations of biological, physical, and ecological systems, including 'real time systems' like the Large Condensation Cube (1963–67), which demonstrated his engagement with the ZERO group, Minimalism, and cybernetics.
The exhibition then charts Haacke's pivotal shift towards examining socio-political structures, employing factual observations to reveal abuses of power, mechanisms of exclusion, and the entanglements of public institutions, politics, and economics. Iconic works like 'Shapolsky et al. Manhattan Real Estate Holdings, a Real-Time Social System, as of May 1, 1971' exposed corporate machinations, while 'Manet-PROJEKT '74' delved into post-war continuities of Nazi history. The exhibition also features works specifically developed for the Austrian context, such as 'And You Were Victorious After All' (1988), which transforms a Nazi victory monument into a memorial, and 'GERMANIA' (1993) at the Venice Biennale, which critically commented on Germany's past and present. Haacke's ongoing engagement with confronting anti-democratic tendencies is further highlighted through works like the banner 'We (All) Are the People' (2003/17 – ongoing), which reclaims public slogans for cultural diversity and tolerance. Curated by Luisa Ziaja with Assistant Curators Katarina Lozo and Theresa Dann-Freyenschlag, the exhibition invites a critical reflection on how capital, ideology, and history shape our lives and the complicity and critical potential of the art world.
