Alice Creischer's 'The Greatest Happiness Principle Party' at Secession: An Exploration of Political Economy and Art

Alice Creischer's exhibition 'The Greatest Happiness Principle Party' presents a frozen staging of a party set in the Secession in 1931. The work explores themes of political and economic machinations, referencing a historical bank crisis and its broader societal implications.

Alice Creischer's exhibition, 'The Greatest Happiness Principle Party', is set within the Secession, reimagining the institution's historical role in hosting events. The exhibition centers on a frozen staging of a party from 1931, during which the Austrian Creditanstalt, a significant international financial hub, was on the brink of bankruptcy, an event that triggered the second global economic crisis. The installation features seven life-sized wooden silhouettes dressed in various costumes, alongside textiles, drawings, and a video work. The party scene is juxtaposed with the rear room, transformed into a cloakroom where staff engage in a 'militant investigation' into the bank's collapse and its consequences, including the development of European strategies by German capital that influenced the International Monetary Fund. Creischer's work consistently seeks to visualize processes and machinations in politics and economics, often grounding her narratives in historical reference points.

Visitors can find ticketing information and purchase tickets via a provided link to eventjet.at. The exhibition is located at Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Vienna. General opening hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am-6 pm. Specific exhibition dates are July 5 to September 2, 2001.