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Spirit of Austria presents three positions in contemporary art from Austria: the group Gelatin-members: Wolfgang Gantner (b. Mistelbach, 1968), Ali Janka (b. Salzburg, 1970), Florian Reither (b. St. Pölten, 1970), and Tobias Urban (b. Munich, 1971) - and the artists Franz Graf (b. Tulln, 1954) and Markus Schinwald (b. Salzburg, 1973). At first glance, Graf´s large-format graphite and ink drawings would seem to have little in common with Gelatin´s gaudy modeling-clay pictures and colorful table collages or Schinwald´s overpainted portraits. But a closer look discovers affinities: excessive physicality or unusual psychological constitutions laced with humor and undeniable critical overtones. Despite the considerable differences between the individual artists´ works, they share a narrative approach invested in the social relevance of art - and, occasionally, in deliberate provocation - that has deep roots in the Austrian artistic tradition.

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Spirit of Austria presents three positions in contemporary art from Austria: the group Gelatin-members: Wolfgang Gantner (b. Mistelbach, 1968), Ali Janka (b. Salzburg, 1970), Florian Reither (b. St. Pölten, 1970), and Tobias Urban (b. Munich, 1971)-and the artists Franz Graf (b. Tulln, 1954) and Markus Schinwald (b. Salzburg, 1973). At first glance, Graf´s large-format graphite and ink drawings would seem to have little in common with Gelatin´s gaudy modeling-clay pictures and colorful table collages or Schinwald´s overpainted portraits. But a closer look discovers affinities: excessive physicality or unusual psychological constitutions laced with humor and undeniable critical overtones. Despite the considerable differences between the individual artists´ works, they share a narrative approach invested in the social relevance of art-and, occasionally, in deliberate provocation-that has deep roots in the Austrian artistic tradition. With a preface by Monika Schnetkamp and essays by Zdenek Felix and Robert Fleck.

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Robert Fleck, 1957 in Wien geboren, ist Direktor der Deichtorhallen Hamburg. Er hat unter anderem bei Gilles Deleuze und Michel Foucault studiert und 1988 in Innsbruck mit einer Arbeit über die Revolution von 1848 promoviert. Bei Philo Fine Arts ist erschienen: HIER DISTANS. Arnulf Rainer, Dieter Roth & die Wiener Künstlerbohème der Siebziger (2008)

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