Tools of Enlightenment
A cooperation between
the University of Applied Arts and European Alpbach Forum
Incorporating the perspectives
of artists and cultural creators on the burning questions affecting society today in the Alpbach Symposia and enabling an
on-site experience of innovative art projects are just as central to the aims of the European Forum Alpbach as creating the
opportunity for over 700 young people to participate in the European Forum Alpbach every year.
The cooperation
between the University of Applied Arts Vienna and the European Forum Alpbach is a key building block in the programme on offer
at Alpbach. For the first time within this framework, artistic works by students will be on display in a wide variety of locations
– in public spaces as well as at sites around the Congress Centre.
The students have worked intensively with the
themes raised by the topic of “New Enlightenment”, developing concepts and artworks around them, while in addition participating
in the academic seminars and symposia.
We are delighted that this year, for the first time, we will be joined by
outstanding students from both classes at the University of Applied Arts. 26 artworks, photographs, as well as installations
and objects will be shown within this space of dialogue. We are convinced that the exhibition and its works will leave their
mark on the discussions and symposia.
The planning and implementation of this kind of collaboration and exhibition
usually involves a large number of people: we would like to thank the students, who brought an incredible level of engagement
and good cheer to devising and realising their artistic projects, as well as their professors, Matthias Koslik and Gabriele
Rothemann, who guided and accompanied the artists, and to congratulate them all on a successful exhibition.
Our
warm thanks also go to Robert Mathy, Marcel Köhler, Judith Pichlmüller and Meinhard Rauchensteiner for contributing to the
success of the exhibition, as well as to Ruth Horak for the catalogue texts and Theresa Hattinger for its graphic design.
Friendship and mutual esteem characterised the collaboration between the two organisations, which are working for
a peaceful and democratic Europe.
Dr. Gerald Bast
Rector of the University of Applied Arts Vienna
Dr. Franz Fischler
President of the European Forum Alpbach
Dr. Monika Sommer
Head, Arts Programme,
European Forum Alpbach
