Artists and Poets: A Group Exhibition Exploring the Bond Between Art and Poetry

Artists and Poets was a group exhibition curated by Ugo Rondinone, exploring the relationship between art and poetry. The exhibition featured works by 15 artists, presented in pairs to foster dialogue and highlight the shared creative power of visual art and literature.

The exhibition 'Artists and Poets,' curated by the renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, delved into the profound connection between visual arts and poetry, reflecting Rondinone's belief in the spiritual and transcendental power of art. While the title suggests a direct link to poetry, the exhibition primarily focused on the intuitive understanding of artworks, asserting that art, like poetry, can be felt and understood beyond literal interpretation. The presentation emphasized this by showcasing larger groups of works from each of the 15 participating artists, often placing them in dialogue with each other. The selection was eclectic, spanning different generations and geographies, with notable juxtapositions such as Bob Law's minimalist works alongside Justin Matherly's monumental sculptures, and Heimo Zobernigs early cardboard sculptures facing Donald Evans's delicate stamps. The exhibition also featured a special adaptation of John Giorno's 'Dial-A-Poem,' a poetry installation accessible via telephone, co-presented with the Vienna School of Poetry, further bridging the gap between artistic disciplines and engaging with the city of Vienna, where Rondinone studied. 'Artists and Poets' aimed to demonstrate that creative output, whether a poem or a painting, possesses the capacity to profoundly affect individuals. Rondinone's curatorial approach was subjective and unconventional, intentionally fostering a sense of intuitive reception over explicit interpretation. He posited that any explanation inherently limits both the poem and the artwork, as each encompasses the ineffable. The exhibition featured artists such as Michaela Eichwald, Donald Evans, John Giorno, Giorgio Griffa, Fritz Hartlauer, Gustav Klimt, Bob Law, Andrew Lord, Justin Matherly, Fritz Panzer, Gerwald Rockenschaub, Andra Ursuta, Michael Williams, and Heimo Zobernig, creating a rich tapestry of contemporary and historical artistic practices.

Ticketing information for the exhibition can be found via the provided link, directing visitors to the official ticketing platform. General admission details may be available on the Secession's 'Informationen & Tickets' page.