The opening of the Kunsthaus in Graz at the end of September 2003 sees the culmination of a hugely successful year in Graz, as it took on the role of the European City of Culture.  (see highlights below)

However, the opening not only signifies the end of a year celebrating culture in Graz, but it also signifies the beginning of a long term commitment to continuing the highest possible standards of arts and entertainment in one of Austria's premiere cities.

When British architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier bid and won the competition to design a new museum in historic Graz their objective was to fulfill a remit which entailed the creation of a new space for temporary exhibitions.  But they were also challenged to create a design which changed the rooftop skyline of the underutilized northbank of the river which runs through the city.

Cook and Fournier have met their brief in its entirety.  The building - labeled the friendly alien - manages to sit neatly between traditional architecture without offending or diminishing its elderly neighbors.  This is achieved in two ways.  First it follows the undulation of the skyline, and secondly and probably more importantly the surface of the Kunsthaus both absorbs and reflects the surrounding architecture.  By reinforcing the view that modern contemporary architecture sits well against the best that classical design can produce, it sends a message to the world of urban design.

Whether inside or outside the building, the textures of the walls harmonize with their environment.   And the ability of the peanut shaped wall of lights (below) to illuminate the city is done in a way that has never been seen before in not so sleepy Graz!

Alongside the peanut is the jelly in the sandwich.  The interior paneling in the building is as the exterior: a surface where light and reflected light gives the feel and texture of flavored jelly - the flavor dependent upon the light it is reflecting and absorbing.

Archieving an outstanding building is fabulous, but what use is it other than eye candy if the functionality of the design fails?  What of the critical content of this museum?

Having attended a couple of great parties at the opening it is likely that this home for temporary shows will soon spread its wings to include other entertainment.

Set on three floors with a hip cafe on the first floor, the museum is set to expand into a multi-purpose venue.  With capacity of traffic upto 5, 000 visitors a day, there is an obligation to make full use of the space.  The best of culture and entertainment deserves a fitting home, and according to the architects, it well suited to attract an audience interested in dance and film, alongside the more traditional visual  arts and modern art installations.

The Kunsthaus is a happy building which makes you smile.  The friendly alien managed in just a few days to endear itself to both the locals and the tourists. 

The very fact that the newly revitalized north bank  of the city  provides a warm welcome to everyone  is in itself an achievement.  In but a few days the Kunsthaus managed to attain the ambition of many new culture venues:  to kickstart the beginning of the regeneration of a recently abandoned urban center. 

Full marls to Cook and Fournier who have set the standard for new, challenging urban architecture.  Now it is the turn of the the Kunsthaus' management to fill the belly of the friendly alien with a exciting menu of cultural and culinary delights.

for more click here

Darryll, September 30, 2003

Graz 2003: European City of Culture

A cultural collage of events with the whole city participating and drawing
hundreds of thousands of  visitors.  There is no mistaking the designer logo

which is creatively used throughout the historic city.  This all encompassing strategy is reflected in the schedule 

which highlights new exhibits, concerts, openings , premieres; and even sporting events pop up in a timetable.  

Whenever you arrive in Graz there will always be more than enough to keep you absorbed and entertained.  Truly a European city of culture!

November highlights ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ PROJECT: "ICONS OF THE 20TH CENTURY"   MARKUS HINTERHÄUSER: PIANO RECITAL   Markus Hinterhäuser When: November 12, .2003, 19:30 Where: Helmut-List-Halle, Waagner-Biró-Straße 98a The pianist Markus Hinterhäuser is an acknowledged specialist in modern and contemporary piano literature. His concert in the "Icons of the 20th century" series will include works by John Cage and the Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya, a student of Shostakovich. ______________________________________________________________ PROJECT: "KEEP IN TOUCH"   PIERRE BOURDIEU: IN ALGERIA TESTIMONIES OF UPROOTING.  Pierre Bourdieu, Untitled Opening: November 14, 2003, 18:00 Duration: November 15, .2003 - February 6, 2004 Where: Camera Austria - Kunsthaus Graz, Südtirolerplatz 2 The long years of collaboation between Camera Austria and the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu culminated in a project of monumental proportions after Bourdieu entrusted Camera Austria with his entire archive of photographs taken during his years of field research in Algeria between 1958 and 1961. In cooperation with Bourdieu himself (who died in 2002) and Franz Schultheis, the photographs were selected and placed in the context of ethnographical and sociological texts written in Algeria during the same period. The result is the exhibition titled "Pierre Bourdieu: In Algeria. Testimonies of Uprooting", which also shows the historical, political, scientific and biographical contexts in which these works were created. ______________________________________________________________ PROJECT: "EUROPEAN JAZZ 2003"   JAZZ LIAISONS BETWEEN EAST AND WEST: ENGLAND. Duration: November 17 - November 21, 2003  20:00hrs Where: Stockwerk, Jakominiplatz 18/I Together with the Graz University of Music and Dramatic Arts, a number of open-minded and competent event organisers have been creating an optimum environment for jazz in Graz. In 2003, musicians from the EU meet their Eastern European counterparts. ______________________________________________________________ STEIRISCHER HEBST 2003 DRY CLEAN SHOW A FASHION FAIR BY LISA D. Premiere: November 21, 2003, 20:00hrs Further performances:November 23, 25, 26 at 8.00pm Where: Helmut List-Halle, Waagner-Biró-Straße 98a The fashion artist Lisa D. became famous for the barrier-breaking style with which she presents her collections under the label "Mode Berlin". Here she takes this style one step further - "Dry Clean Show" is simultaneously a liturgy and an exhibition, a mass and a vanity fair. The plot has three fictitious companies struggling to find exemplary ethical solutions to the well-known problems of the countries where their products are manufactured. Using the mechanisms of the fashion show, dance, voice, and music, and supported by Wolfgang Mitterer's uncompromising beat, the show examines the madness of the consumer world - and does so in an entertaining way. ______________________________________________________________ PROJECT: "CHESS003" COMPUTER CHESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Duration: November 22 - 30, 2003 Where: Dom im Berg, Schlossberg Several variations on the theme of chess are on the programme of chess003: players against players, players against computers, computers against computers, matches in Graz and matches between opponents in different parts of the world. Graz becomes the chess forum of the global village. As the highlight of the chess year, the world's most powerful chess programs compete against one another in the Dom im Berg in a tournament modelled on the style of the International Computer Games Association (London). ______________________________________________________________ PROJECT: "ICONS OF THE 20TH CENTURY"   VIENNA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA BEAT FURRER PREMIERE BY ERNST KOVACIC   When: November 28, 2003 at 19:30hrs Where: Helmut List-Halle, Waagner-Biró-Straße 98a The rousing finale of the "Icons of the 20th century" concert series features the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Ingo Metzmacher. Star violinist Ernst Kovacic will play the premiere performance of Beat Furrer's violin concerto, a work commissioned by Graz 2003. Also on the programme are: Franz Schreker: Vorspiel zu einem Drama. Giacinto Scelsi: Konx-Om-Pax. Claude Debussy: Nocturnes.

September highlights __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ PROJECT "P.P.C.": A/V COLLISION INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE CRASH OF THE ACOUSTIC AND THE VISUAL September 11 - 13, 2003, 21:00hrs The festival treats audio and video as equal partners. Images no longer simply accompany music performances and sound needs to be more than background music for films. Moving images contrast with or complete the music performance while sounds create new moods and thus complete the visitor’s visual impressions. Line-up: Chicks on Speed, Pan Sonic, DMX Krew, Luke Vibert, Virgil Widrich, Villalog feat. B. Fleischmann, Fuckhead, Fennesz, Harald Hund, Massimo, Sluta Leta, General Magic, and others. _________________________________________________________________ DIAGONALE SPECIAL # 3: TRIBUTE ROBERT FRANK FROM THE BEAT GENERATION FILM-MAKER TO THE AUTOBIOGRAPHER   Scene from the film "Candy Mountain" Opening and book presentation: September 11, 2003 at  20:00hrs Duration: September 21-23, 2003 at 19:00hrs and 21:00hrs Location: Augartenkino kiz Since the publication of his famous photography book “The Americans“ (1958), Robert Frank is considered to be one of the most important photo artists. His first film “Pull My Daisy“, after a theatre play by Jack Kerouac, has become a cult classic. His cinematic works include co-productions with other artists, such as the documentary of a Rolling Stones tour, “Cocksucker Blues”, or the road movie “Candy Mountain”, and cinematic reflections on his role as artist, husband and father. For the first time a book on Robert Frank is published which traces back his development from the beat generation film-maker to the autobiographical essayist. Idea and concept: DIAGONALE in co-operation with Sixpack Film _________________________________________________________________ CONCERT BY THE MALE-VOICE CHOIR ROPPONGI, JAPAN: REQUIEM. BY SHIGEAKI SAEGUSA WORLD PREMIERE OF THE FIRST JAPANESE REQUIEM Date: September 16, 2003 at 20:00hrs Location: Minoriten This 200 member choir consists of important representatives from politics, economy, culture and science. In its activities the male-voice choir Roppongi puts the emphasis on fund-raising concerts for suffering children all over the world or in order to buy an ambulance car for Afghanistan to name only a few. Conductor: Hiroaki Masuda/Kazuo Kobayashi Soloist: Yuko Kamahora, Soprano Kazuo Kobayashi, tenor Piano: Sakae Kobayashi _________________________________________________________________ STEIRISCHER HERBST 2003: INSIDEOUT BY SASHA WALTZ A DANCE INSTALLATION TO MUSIC BY REBECCA SAUNDERS. WORLD PREMIERE   Sasha Waltz Premiere: September 18, 2003 at 19:30hrs and 21:30hrs Location: Helmut-List-Hall Further performances: September 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26,  2003 at 19:30hrs and 21:30hrs each day Sasha Waltz´ scientific dance performance "insideout" opens the steirischer herbst festival 2003. "insideout" is an exhibition, a concert and a dance performance in one, a truly interdisciplinary production. Based on the biographies of dancers from Asia, Europe, North and South America, it explores the change of lifestyles, status symbols and values. Karl Stocker, scientist and co-initiator of the project, conducted the interviews with artists of Waltz’ dance ensemble, which form the basis of the choreographic installation. The “subjective” life-stories are confronted with “objective”, scientific theses by Pierre Bourdieu, Jean Baudrillard, Ulrich Beck and Judith Butler. "insideout" does not take place in a traditional theatre setting but rather as an “exhibition of people and identities”. The visitors circulate freely in an open space system (stage: Thomas Schenk). The closeness to twenty performers and ten musicians of the musikFabrik as well as the overlapping of simultaneous actions, images (video: Philip Bußmann) and sounds create a complex, living art space. _________________________________________________________________ PROJECT "EUROPE’S MEMORIES" EXHIBITION RUTH BECKERMANN Opening: September 25, 2003 at 20:00hrs Duration: September 25-28, 2003 Location: Rechbauerkino Beckermann’s project "europe’s memories" (August 29 - September 28, 2003, Dom im Berg) is complemented and commented by an exhibition by the film-maker. At the opening, a presenter will direct the discussion on "Filming memories". The exhibition "europe’s memories": 25 faces on 25 screens in 25 booths. The film-maker Ruth Beckermann spent a year recording conversations with people who left their homes, some of them voluntarily, and many others forced by wars and conflicts. A selection of these encounters, filmed in various places, is on display in the “Dom im Berg” in Graz. Each booth offers the visitor a window to different sections of the “greater” European history: National Socialism, communism, and colonialism form the backdrop of the personal memories. _________________________________________________________________ PROJECT "BALKAN CONSULATE": SARAJEVO Duration: September 26 - November 15, 2003 Location: rotor, Belgiergasse 8 For one and a half years < rotor > association for contemporary art houses the "Balkan Consulate". Young curators from Belgrade, Prague, Istanbul, Budapest, Sarajevo, Vienna and St. Petersburg present important artistic positions. Sarajevo will be the consulate’s last guest. The exhibition takes place within the framework of steirischer herbst. Curator: Lejla Hodþi¿ ________________________________________ KUNSTHAUS GRAZ: OPENING AND “EINTÖNEN” - SOUND INSTALLATION Duration: September 27, 2003 at 9:00hrs - September 28, 2003 at18:00 Location: Kunsthaus Graz, Südtiroler Platz 2 / Lendkai 1 The opening of the Kunsthaus Graz is dedicated to the theme of perception. At the building’s inauguration on 27 September, Eintönen will offer a very special housewarming. A series of sound installations will precede and set the mood for the opening exhibition. On 25 October, the Kunsthaus will officially open with the exhibition “Imagination”. The theme of this exhibition is perception, our knowledge of perception and the conditions to which the phenomenon is subject. _________________________________________________________________ PROJECT "EUROPEAN JAZZ 2003": HUNGARY Dates: 29.09.2003 at 21:00hrs; 30.09.2003 at 20:00hrs; 01.10.2003 at 21:00hrs Locations: M59 and Royal Garden Jazz Club A range of curious and competent organizers as well as the University of Music and Dramatic Arts Graz have long ago created fertile ground for jazz in Graz. In 2003 musicians from the European Union and from Eastern Europe meet for jazz liaisons between East and West. This time the subject is Hungary. With AKOSH S., MAKAM GROUP featuring Iren Lovasz (vocal) and MIRRORWORLD QUARTET.

what we did in May 2003 and see below for what's coming up!

take home a sacher torte and pumpkin oil.  Indescribably delicious!

historic Graz  is pivotal to the event's unqualified success.

The organizers of Graz 2003 have achieved their ambitions:  the regeneration of the city by incorporating the restoration of the old alongside development of the very new.  Humor  plays   a crucial part in the program  and most effective is the Island of Mer - which I originally thought was a real island but it is not!  Instead a steel floating space ship  spans the river banks, connected to dry land by bridges.  With a great cafe/bar, and a small stage for performances, this floating island has become a Republic, and I have a passport to enter.  Find out how to get yours when you arrive in Graz, (just a 20 minute flight from Vienna).

Project: "Mountain of Memories":
EUROPAMEMORIA: REMEMBRANCE AND THE PRESENT.
EUROPE'S MEMORIES.

AN EXHIBITION BY RUTH BECKERMANN

at

Dom im Berg

August 29 -  October 28,  2003

       

Over the course of a year, Ruth Beckermann recorded conversations with people who left their homes -voluntarily in the case of some, driven out by wars and conflicts in the case of many others. People who lost their homes and yet, in many cases, nonetheless look back on the loss as a "liberating move".

A selection of encounters filmed in various locations has been collected in the "Dom im Berg" in Graz. 25 faces on 25 screens in 25 booths. In each booth, a window opens for visitors onto an extract of the greater history of Europe: National Socialism, Communism and colonialism form the background of these personal memories.

Ruth Beckermann's artistic home is essayistic cinema. The art of distilling history into stories, of making the process of storytelling visible and comprehensible, has preoccupied the author for two decades. "europamemoria" marks her first foray into a room installation as a means of examining the question of how (and whether) stories can be densified into history.

Project "The Mirrored City "

at

Freiheitsplatz

August 1 - October 31, 2003

A fabulous installation to transform the face of the city on the Freiheitsplatz in Graz.

Based on an idea by Emil Breisach and Klaus and Alexander Kada, ARGE KADA constructed a number of mirrored surfaces which show multiple reflections of the square, the houses, passers-by and cars and thus create new spaces.

The arrangement of the mirrors side by side and one behind another presents the viewer with an endless multiplicity of impressions which are all the more impressive because the mirrors, reflective on both sides and measuring up to 4½ metres in height, are far taller than the spectators. The city thus presents itself in unaccustomed perspectives and invites viewers to rediscover its beauties.

This interplay of reflections is supplemented by live images of a seaside scene which are transmitted via a dedicated line and displayed on a large LED screen. A soundtrack of ocean sounds will accompany the images.

___________________________________________________________________

CROSSING EUROPE.
THE DIAGONALE OPEN-AIR FILM FESTIVAL

at Augarten

through August 30, 2003


 

from "Lichter" by H.C. Schmid

 
The DIAGONALE Open Air Film Festival, which forms part of DIAGONALE SPECIALS 2003, is a five-week cinema event under the open night sky in the Augarten in Graz. Under the title of "CROSSING EUROPE", the festival presents the varied forms of European film which rarely find their way into mainstream cinema programmes outside their countries of origin. The festival offers a unique opportunity to experience thrilling, entertaining, critical and surprising cinema from the Europe of today on both sides of the Schengen divide. CROSSING EUROPE - a cinematic journey through Europe.

a small footie diversion if you schedule your trip between July 7 -13

Homeless World Cup
A Different Soccer Cup

From  July 7 to 13, 2003 the "Homeless World Cup" will take place in the heart of inner city Graz, featuring 20 teams of men and women from Argentina, Brazil, the USA, Denmark, South Africa, Russia, Australia, Switzerland, Rumania, Scotland, England, Holland, Slovakia and Austria. The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) supports the event which aims to extend the cultural aspect of soccer to include re-integrating the homeless.
There is hardly greater scope for overcoming social exclusion than through sport.  For many, just the tough training schedule is the first step to recovery.
The games are played in the streets.  Spectators are separated from the players only by the sidelines.  Each team consists of four players and a goalie.  And simple street soccer rules  should guarantee excitement on the Hauptplatz and in the Paradeishof throughout the tournament.
(The global players are supported by the International Network of Street Papers (INSP). Organisers in Graz are MEGAPHON and Team ON.  The project is in cooperation with Graz 2003 - Cultural Capital of Europe)

Project "Acconci on the Mur": BEYOND THE METROPOLISES

Date: 03 - 10 July 2003 and 13 July 2003, from 2 p.m. respectively Location: Island in the Mur

"Acconci on the Mur" will be the name of the provincial capital 2003, which will save the provincial essence of the real Graz for ten days. From 03 - 13 July 2003 the ISLAND IN THE MUR will be occupied by the THEATER IM BAHNHOF ("Theatre in the Railway station"). During that time it will be a separate Republic and the safest island in the world. Some of the highlights include: "Aufregen und Singen" ("Agitating and singing") - an evening of protest songs, "Der Strand der Halbperfekten" ("The beach of the semi-perfect") and "Aktenzeichen XY Graz" ("Unsolved crimes"). Guests: Theater Clara (CH), Hygiene Heute ("Hygiene Today", Germany) and Forced Entertainment (UK). ___________________________________________________________________

"Project: Interfaith Europe": OPENING CEREMONY

Date: 06 July 2003, 8.30 p.m. Location: Kasematten am Schlossberg

The project:

In European cities there is an increasing need for strategies which enable people with different religious and non-religious identities to coexist in peace and with equal rights on the basis of human rights and the respective democratic constitutions. For the first time the "Project: Interfaith Europe" invites urban politicians and representatives of different religions from all over Europe to a mutual learning process on how to deal with urban plurality. Media and migration bring about a transfer of conflicts across borders and require an effective European cooperation.

Project: "DIAGONALE 2003": CROSSING EUROPE. The DIAGONALE Open Air Film Festival

Date: 24 - 30 July 2003 Location: "Passamtswiese" in the Stadtpark (close to Paulustor)

"CROSSING EUROPE" is a virtual journey throughout Europe on both sides of the Schengen border… The DIAGONALE Open Air Film Festival "CROSSING EUROPE" will show films under the night sky. In case of rain the DIAGONALE venue Schubertkino will serve as alternative location, thus ensuring screenings every evening.

Project: "styriarte 2003": THE POWER OF MUSIC

Date: 19 June - 27 July 2003 Locations: Stefaniensaal, Minoritensaal, Schloss Eggenberg and others

For some it is the "language of emotion", for others simply "sophisticated entertainment", and yet others sense in it a "conversation among sensible people". As many and diverse the attempts to define music are, so are its effects. And still its power over the hearts of people will always remain a mystery, its magic always inexplicable.

The styriarte festival 2003 starts searching for the root of this mysterious power. It is searching for it in moments of human life, which would be incomplete without music: dance and festival, private happiness and public transport of delight, praise to God and mourning.

Project: European Eyes on Japan: OPENING OF THE EXHIBTION by Michael Danner, Margherita Spiluttini, Agnieszka Wotdzko

Opening: 25 July 2003, 7 p.m. Date: 26 July - 24 August 2003 Location: Palais Thienfeld, Mariahilferstrat 2

The project European Eyes on Japan was organised in cooperation with EU-Japan Fest and curated by Christine Frisinghelli, CAMERA AUSTRIA. Three European photo artists were invited to venture on an on-site artistic exploration of the geographical, cultural and social conditions in two Japanese prefectures: Yamagata in the North-West of Honshu and Oita on the Southern island of Kyushu. The results of their work will be presented in exhibitions in Japan and in Graz.