Vienna
Open now

Experience Bernhard Leitner's Vision: Sound, Architecture, and Spatial Sculpture

Discover how Leitner transforms acoustic vibrations into immersive physical environments for a unique sensory journey.

This exhibition delves into Bernhard Leitner's groundbreaking work, showcasing his half-century exploration at the intersection of acoustics, architecture, and sculpture. Visitors are invited to engage with installations where sound becomes a tangible, spatial, and physical material. Experience how his compositions challenge perceptions of space and the listening body, offering a profound sensory engagement.

About Bernhard Leitner at Secession in Vienna

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Bernhard Leitner at Secession in Vienna

Exhibition summary

This exhibition showcases the media-spanning work of artist Bernhard Leitner, who operates at the intersection of acoustics, architecture, and sculpture. Leitner's practice explores sound as a spatial and physical phenomenon, transforming it into the material of his compositions through sculptural forms and architectural structures.

Curatorial context

Bernhard Leitner has been working across disciplines for over 50 years at the nexus of acoustics, architecture, sculpture, and artistic research. His work invites a new understanding of sound, not merely as an acoustic phenomenon but as something that develops spatially, physically, and architecturally. Employing sculptural forms, loudspeaker constellations, and architectural structures, Leitner makes the sonic movement itself the material of composition: waves that penetrate the body, crash against it, or circle it. His installations demand not just attention but presence, inviting visitors to experience how sound restructures spatial perception and materially impacts the body. Sound becomes a medium for the creation and destabilization of architectural experience. In an era where auditory experience is often reduced to background noise or mere ambiance, Leitner insists on slowness and intimacy, emphasizing the role of the listening body in creating space. In his practice, space appears not as a static container but as an activated field charged with vibrations, rhythms, and proximity. His sound architecture thus undertakes a form of phenomenological inquiry, where perception is never disembodied and space is always in flux. In a world saturated with noise, Bernhard Leitner reminds us that sound can also be a way to create space around us, crafting art that we don't just hear but enter.

Admission and ticket notes

Information regarding tickets and admission can be found via the provided link, directing visitors to the official ticketing platform. Opening hours indicate the venue is closed today, with regular hours from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM.

Bernhard Leitner key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Bernhard Leitner at Secession in Vienna

Venue
Secession
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
Sep 11, 2026 – Nov 22, 2026
Artist line / attribution
Bernhard Leitner, born in Feldkirch, Austria in 1938, lives and works in Vienna, Austria.
More from Secession
Explore additional exhibitions from the same institution
Review other exhibitions from Secession in Vienna to compare themes, timelines, and program direction while planning your museum visit.
Abstract watercolor artwork in shades of purple and violet, featuring splatters, washes, and gestural marks on textured paper, evoking a sense of movement and layered depth.
From Feb 14, 2002

Hier ist dort 2: Explore Contemporary Painting and Abstraction at Secession Vienna Exhibition

Uncover visualization processes shaping reality in a media society.

The "Hier ist dort 2" group exhibition delves into painting's role in examining visualization processes. Discover works questioning the interplay of reality, abstraction, and social construction in a media-driven world. This thought-provoking show is hosted at Secession Vienna.

View Exhibition Details
Watercolor illustration of an artist's studio with pink furniture, easels, and handwritten notes on the walls, depicting Stephen Prina's 'As He Remembered It' exhibition at the Secession.
From May 27, 2011

Stephen Prina: As He Remembered It – An Exhibition of Appropriation Art at Secession

Exploring architecture, memory, and Manet-inspired painting in Vienna.

Discover how Stephen Prina recontextualizes architectural elements and engages with art history through his Manet series. This exhibition highlights his unique approach to conceptual and contemporary art.

Stephen Prina Exhibition
A watercolor illustration of an art exhibition with visitors viewing paintings and sculptures in a gallery space, featuring purple hues and a mix of artworks on walls and tables.
From May 5, 2006

Kristina Leko: Beweis Nr. 4 Exhibition – Exploring Art, Participation, and Society

A conceptual art experiment reimagining the 19th-century art salon concept.

Discover Kristina Leko's impactful "Beweis Nr. 4," featuring a blend of private art collections and creations from workshops with unemployed individuals. This exhibition stimulates cultural dialogue, exploring the concept of universal artistry and art's role in society.

View Exhibition Details
A purple watercolor illustration of a gallery space with silhouettes of people viewing art installations, including a camera and screens, evoking a contemplative mood.
From Mar 8, 2024

Imran Perretta: tears of the fatherland – Exploring Identity Through Sound and Video Art

Powerful installations on marginalization, surveillance, and contemporary identity.

Experience Imran Perretta's immersive sound and video installation, "the destructors," and a new site-specific work. The exhibition critiques power dynamics, state surveillance, and the formation of identity for young people.

Imran Perretta Exhibition
Abstract purple watercolor artwork by Attila Csörgő, featuring geometric shapes and kinetic forms, displayed in a minimalist gallery space.
From Dec 2, 2011

Attila Csörgő: An Exhibition on Kinetics, Optics, and Geometry in Contemporary Art

Explore how scientific principles meet artistic expression with wit and irony.

Discover Attila Csörgő's unique works, from photography to sculpture, that visualize unseen phenomena. This exhibition invited viewers to engage with scientific concepts like kinetics and optics through artistic experimentation and transparent systems.

Attila Csörgő Exhibition
A watercolor illustration of Thea Djordjadze's exhibition 'To be in an upright position on the feet,' featuring a gallery space filled with art supplies, easels, canvases, and sculptures arranged in a disassembled studio environment, with visitors observing the installation.
From Sep 8, 2016

Thea Djordjadze's Exhibition at Secession: Studio Contents as Site-Specific Installation

Relocating and reordering personal workspace into a public sculptural form.

Explore Thea Djordjadze's ambitious project at Secession. Her entire Berlin studio inventory transforms into a large-scale installation, recontextualizing everyday items and tools. Discover artistic process and material perception within this dynamic exhibition.

Thea Djordjadze Exhibition
Vienna

Discover Current Exhibitions in Vienna: Your Essential Exhibition Search Guide

Explore Vienna's dynamic art and cultural displays today.

Find compelling art, history, and science exhibitions happening throughout Vienna. This specialized resource helps you locate unique cultural experiences and plan your visit to inspiring displays. Explore Vienna's rich cultural scene with ease.