Widersprüche – Kuratorisch handeln zwischen Theorie und Praxis (curating. ausstellungstheorie & praxis – Volume 6)

What consequences can criticism of the museum have in the museum? Since the beginning of the 21st century, critical theories have spread like wildfire in institutional texts and contexts. Feminism, antiracism, environmental politics, institutional critique, inclusion debates, decolonial and queer theories are omnipresent, yet structurally there have been few changes for the better and hard-fought advances in critical vocabulary often degenerate to labels.

 

Against this backdrop, volume 7 of the series curating. ausstellungstheorie & praxis explores the relationships between theory and practice and the associated contradictions in the museum context. It asks how critical theory can become practice. How can critical vocabulary be translated into institutional action? The contributions question overarching structures, but also describe and reflect on personal moments.

Martina Griesser-Stermscheg, Vienna Museum of Science and Technology
Christine Haupt-Stummer, section.a
Renate Höllwart, trafo.K
Beatrice Jaschke, purpurkultur
Monika Sommer, House of Austrian History, Vienna
Nora Sternfeld, Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg (HFBK)
Luisa Ziaja, Belvedere, Vienna

The series curating. austtellungstheorie & praxis is edited by Martina Griesser-Stermscheg, Christine Haupt-Stummer, Renate Höllwart, Beatrice Jaschke, Monika Sommer, Nora Sternfeld, and Luisa Ziaja. All editors are members of the association schnittpunkt. austellungstheorie & praxis, an extra-institutional network for actors in the museum and exhibition field. Together they are directors and teachers of /ecm - educating/curating/making. Study Programme for Exhibition Theory & Practice at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

---

All volumes of the series curating. ausstellungstheorie & praxis:

Volume 7:
Nicht einfach ausstellen – Kuratorische Formate und Strategien im Postnazismus (2025)
Volume 6:
Widersprüche – Kuratorisch handeln zwischen Theorie und Praxis (2023)
Volume 5:
Sich mit Sammlungen anlegen – Gemeinsame Dinge und alternative Archive (2020)
Volume 4:
Gegenöffentlichkeit organisieren – Kritisches Management im Kuratieren (2019)
Volume 3:
Das radikaldemokratische Museum (2018)
Volume 2:
Kuratieren als antirassistische Praxis (2017) / Curating as Anti-Racist Practice (2018)
Volume 1:
Gegen den Stand der Dinge – Objekte in Museen und Ausstellungen (2016)