Vienna
Completed

Thomas Hirschhorn's 'Das Auge' Exhibition: Exploring Perception and Resistance at Secession

Hirschhorn's 2008 installation used the symbolic color red to challenge historical facts and provoke visual dialogue.

Thomas Hirschhorn's significant 2008 exhibition, 'Das Auge' (The Eye), at the Secession explored deep themes of perception and resistance to historical narratives. The artist deliberately used only the color red throughout the installation, presenting it as a powerful symbol of suffering, protest, and connection. This approach aimed to foster a unique dialogue, emphasizing pure visual engagement over intellectual understanding, inviting viewers to confront universal truths through seeing.

About Thomas Hirschhorn: Das Auge at Secession in Vienna

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Thomas Hirschhorn: Das Auge at Secession in Vienna

Exhibition summary

Thomas Hirschhorn's 2008 exhibition 'Das Auge' (The Eye) at the Secession explored perception and resistance to historical facts. The work focused solely on the color red, symbolizing various forms of suffering and protest, aiming to create a dialogue through pure seeing rather than understanding.

Curatorial context

Thomas Hirschhorn's exhibition 'Das Auge' (The Eye), held at the Secession in 2008, was conceived as a work that resists historical facts and seeks to create a universal truth through pure perception. Hirschhorn stated that 'Das Auge' sees but does not understand, proposing that this mode of seeing allows for an opening to the 'Other' and an implication with the work. The exhibition specifically focused on the color red, which was presented as the blood of the wounded and dead, the blood of slaughtered seal pups, the color of protesting mannequins, capillary vessels, national emblems, and simple cardboard hearts. The artist asserted that red connects and relates beyond understanding, information, opinion, or commentary. The exhibition aimed to create conditions for dialogue or confrontation by emphasizing 'only' seeing, which maintains the autonomy of 'Das Auge' and insists on seeing without understanding.

Admission and ticket notes

The page provides information about tickets via a link to an external booking platform. General opening hours (Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM - 6 PM) are mentioned, suggesting standard museum admission policies apply, but specific exhibition ticketing details are not detailed on this page beyond the booking link direction. The exhibition dates are clearly stated for historical context.

Thomas Hirschhorn: Das Auge key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Thomas Hirschhorn: Das Auge at Secession in Vienna

Venue
Secession
Current status
Completed
Exhibition schedule
Jul 5, 2008 – Sep 7, 2008
Artist line / attribution
Featuring work by Thomas Hirschhorn, born 1957 in Bern, who lives and works in Paris.
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.