steirischer herbst

The horrors of the fatherland draw closer

The La Fleur collective explores the waltzing bliss of operetta at the opening.

(Bild: Mukenge/Schellhammmer)

With the central exhibition "Horror Patriae" and a dense program around it, steirischer herbst is exploring the horrors of the fatherland on many levels this year. The festival, curated by Ekaterina Degot, begins in Graz's Lesliehof in a week's time on Thursday.

Director Ekaterina Degot describes this year's herbst exhibition in the Neue Galerie in Graz as the central star, which is intended to offer an alternative to conventional national museums. 15 new works have been commissioned from international artists and will be mixed with exhibits from the collection. In close collaboration with Joanneum curators Birgit Johler and Ulrich Becker, Degot and Pieternel Vermoortel have put the concepts of homeland, origin and fatherland up for discussion. A rich supporting program with artist talks and guided tours complements the show.

herbst director Ekaterina Degot is playing with the horrors of the fatherland this year.

(Bild: Dietmar Reinbacher)

The discourse program is also close to the exhibition. In the "Deathmatches", representatives of opposing positions meet to discuss them. The same is dealt with satirically in the herbst cabarets.

Dense program on the first two days
A series of performances will also question patriotic sentiments. Natalia Pschenitschnikova, for example, explores feelings of superiority in the highly regarded sequence of letters A.E.I.O.U., while La Fleur takes a political approach to operetta bliss and Ari Benjamin Meyers sings the nation to sleep. Augustin Maurs also sings - the favorite songs of dictators and political leaders.

All this awaits in the first two days; together with many partners from the local scene, four weeks of intensive program will then follow. All information can be found at steirischerherbst.at.