Die 70er Jahre

the “Body – Concept - [De] Construction exhibition catalog continues the MUSA’s journey through the history of its Austrian contemporary art collection, which was founded in 1951. The Cultural Affairs Section of the City of Vienna acquired around 2,300 works of art and mosaics between 1970 and 1979. Sculptures and playground attractions were built in Vienna as part of the “Kunst am Bau” “Art and Construction” initiative. The period between 1970 and 1979 led to far-reaching social change in Austria, the themes and positions of which were reflected in the currents that influenced the contemporary art of the time. The effects of the Wirklichkeiten (Realities) exhibition held at the Viennese Secession in 1968 were still being felt at the beginning of the new decade. However, these were quickly superseded by abstract geometrical and conceptual currents. The influence of actionism also faded, whereas art with a feminist orientation gradually took center stage in the public’s interest. A striking number of artists used photography and video for their work, which also showed a performative dimension. “New media” successfully emerged in an artistic context during the 1970s. Towards the end of the decade, the art of figuration and ingenious gestures experiences a revival. The individual catalog contributions bring light to the development of the collection, the political culture and the cultural policies of Vuenna, as well as the photo-artistic tendencies and the status of women in the art of the 1970s.