Vivian Suter: A Stone in the Lake – An Immersive Exhibition at the Secession
Discover how Vivian Suter's 400 canvases merge with natural elements in this unique Secession exhibition.
The Secession presents "Vivian Suter: A Stone in the Lake," a compelling exhibition highlighting the unique artistic practice of Vivian Suter. This comprehensive presentation features approximately 400 loose canvases, densely hung to create an immersive environment that mirrors the artist's Guatemalan studio and garden. Suter's works are intentionally exposed to natural elements, blurring traditional lines between creation and nature. Visitors can experience art where organic processes and chance actively influence the painter's vibrant compositions.
About Vivian Suter: A Stone in the Lake at Secession in Vienna
Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Vivian Suter: A Stone in the Lake at Secession in Vienna
Exhibition summary
This exhibition features the work of artist Vivian Suter, showcasing approximately 400 canvases from various creative periods. The presentation mimics the artist's studio and garden in Guatemala, where her paintings are exposed to natural elements, blurring the lines between art and nature.
Curatorial context
The exhibition 'A Stone in the Lake' at the Secession highlights the unique artistic practice of Vivian Suter, an Argentinian-Swiss artist living in Guatemala. Since the early 1980s, Suter has worked in relative isolation, developing a practice deeply intertwined with nature. A turning point in her work occurred after devastating natural disasters in 2005 and 2010, which covered her stored canvases in mud, fundamentally altering her understanding of authorship and the creative process. She now embraces this interplay with nature, deliberately exposing her large-format, colorful paintings to the elements in her garden. Dust, mud, leaves, and even her dogs leave their traces on the canvases, influenced by organic processes, metamorphosis, and chance. This exhibition, the first comprehensive institutional presentation in Austria, features around 400 loose canvases densely hung from the ceiling and walls, creating an immersive environment akin to the artist's own jungle-like property. The space's connection to an adjacent park allows air currents to move the canvases and the surrounding soundscape to permeate the exhibition, further integrating the artwork with its environment. A collaboration with her son, Frank Wild, also contributes an acoustic element with a re-recorded song from the 1980s.
Admission and ticket notes
Ticketing information is available, and visitors can purchase tickets for the Secession through an external booking platform. The exhibition is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM, with the Secession also open today during these hours. General information and ticket details are provided on the museum's website, directing visitors to the official booking portal for purchases.
Vivian Suter: A Stone in the Lake key exhibition facts
Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Vivian Suter: A Stone in the Lake at Secession in Vienna
Venue
Secession
Current status
Completed
Exhibition schedule
Apr 28, 2023 – Jun 18, 2023
Artist line / attribution
Vivian Suter, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1949, lives and works in Panajachel, Guatemala.
Vienna
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