Yuki Okumura: An Exhibition Transforming the Main Gallery Space at the Secession

This exhibition by Yuki Okumura transforms the Secession's main gallery space into a site of exploration. Through three distinct projects, Okumura delves into the history, context, and personality of the 'Hauptraum' (main room), involving individuals connected to the institution and their memories.

Yuki Okumura's exhibition at the Secession centers on the 'Hauptraum,' a significant and early example of the 'white cube' gallery space. Rather than simply displaying art in this ostensibly neutral environment, Okumura has created three site-specific projects that re-examine the space as a place deeply connected to the world and shaped by its own conditions and contexts. Each project involves a playful method where individuals connected to the Hauptraum were asked to bring the concept to life. 'Wilhelm as Hauptraum' documents an interview with Wilhelm 'Willi' Montibeller, a former head of the Secession's setup team. Willi embodies the space, speaking as if he is the room itself, while recounting his subjective memories of exhibitions he helped install, focusing on the gestures of his hands tracing the forms of artworks no longer present but alive in his recollection. 'Secession's Hive Mind(s)' features a debate among the Secession's board members about renaming the Hauptraum, followed by a translation of this discussion by the press officer, creating a layered sonic experience that, coupled with footage of beehives on the Secession's roof, explores collective consciousness and institutional voice. 'Big White Empty Playground' challenges the physical conditions of the space through a series of workshops with staff from various departments. Participants engaged in a game-like, chance-driven method of art-making, developing simple instructions for 'auto-active,' 'contra-active,' and 'interactive' actions within the empty space, using only their bodies and readily available materials. The outcomes of these procedures form a group exhibition nearly filling the space. Collectively, these projects renew institutional critique by focusing on the human element, exploring the personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal forces that have shaped and will continue to shape the conditions and contexts of the Hauptraum. Okumura suggests that the space itself may be using individuals to reveal and renew its own personality and life path, with each person serving as a unique actor or translator.

The page mentions tickets are available for purchase via a link to the Secession shop and indicates the museum is open daily. Specific exhibition ticket pricing or booking requirements are not detailed on this page, but visitors are directed to the general ticketing portal for the institution. Opening hours are listed as Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM. (Note: The original German text mentions "heute geöffnet" and "di-so / 10-18 uhr" and a ticket link. The above is a synthesis of that general visitor information.)