Antje Schiffers: Großes Bauern-Theater – An Exhibition Exploring Social Realities and Labor at Secession

This exhibition by Antje Schiffers explores the realities of various societal groups, focusing on how economic, political, and social frameworks shape their daily lives. The presented projects delve into themes of exchange, value, and the perception of labor.

Antje Schiffers' artistic practice is deeply interested in the lived experiences of diverse societal groups and the influence of economic, political, and social structures on their everyday lives. Her methodology involves learning languages, extensive travel, and direct collaboration with partners, often through a bartering system where her artwork is exchanged for texts, videos, everyday objects, or hospitality. This practice inherently questions the valuation of different activities and brings forth discussions on use value versus art value, intertwined with romantic notions of artistic genius. The exhibition in the Secession showcases three interconnected projects. 'Großes Bauern-Theater' (2007), realized with Thomas Sprenger, is based on two months of fieldwork among farmers in Lower Austria and Styria. Schiffers documented farmers' daily lives, their commentary on agricultural policies and market developments through video portraits, while she created paintings of their farms as a reciprocal exchange. These works are translated into a scenographic presentation within the exhibition space. Another project presented is 'Da wo ich war' (1998), developed during a year-long stay in a mountain village in Oaxaca, Mexico. There, Schiffers, known to the community as a flower draughtswoman, created a register of local flora in the style of botanical expeditions. Her documentation draws from personal observations and traditional knowledge, sometimes incorporating imaginative narratives. During this period, she also established a photo lab, lent out cameras, and conducted workshops on photo development. For 'Hauptsache man hat Arbeit' (2003/04), Schiffers applied for a fictional position as a factory artist at ContiTech in Hannover. In this role, she created wall drawings based on the wishes of employees, depicting ContiTech products, laboratory instruments, and associative motifs that offered moments of mental escape or reflected the company's international workforce.

Information regarding tickets can be found via the provided link. General opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM. The exhibition runs from July 6 to September 9, 2007, and is presented at the Secession in Vienna. Further details on admission and booking are available through the official ticketing partner or the Secession's information page for visitors. Entry is likely through museum admission, with specific details to be confirmed via the ticket link provided on the website.