The Kunsthalle Wien has been dramatically transformed with a massive 62-meter painting wrapping around its exterior, marking the opening of Chinese artist Guan Xiao's first solo exhibition in Austria. The striking installation, titled "Get Your Head Around It" by German artist Sophie von Hellermann, covers the southwestern side of the museum building and represents significant ideas from throughout human history.
Director Michelle Cotton expressed her enthusiasm during a press tour on Tuesday, stating, "We have wrapped the Kunsthalle in the knowledge of the world." The monumental wall painting by Hellermann aims to unite meaningful concepts from humanity's historical development, creating a spectacular visual statement that transforms the museum's exterior into a canvas for artistic expression.
Inside the museum, Chinese artist Guan Xiao presents her exhibition "Teenager," which opened on October 7th. The ground floor installation explores fundamental themes of food, clothing, and shelter while raising questions about progress, civilization, tradition, and spirituality. Xiao uses the contradictory emotional state of teenagers as a metaphor for a fractured society, creating a powerful commentary on contemporary social issues.
The centerpiece of Xiao's exhibition is a large, tunnel-like house structure that divides the space and is entirely covered in white fur. "Like a pet with fur," Xiao remarked with a smile when describing the installation. Inside this unusual structure, tubes and wrinkled eggs glow with an otherworldly light. The artist explained her concept by saying, "We think so little about life when we go grocery shopping," suggesting that these "old eggs" are meant to bring consciousness of life back into focus.
Surrounding the fur-covered house are approximately ten sculptures of varying sizes. Some reach only to knee height, while others stretch up to the ceiling. Many of these sculptural works feature gnarled tree roots as their core, supplemented with rods, grid plates, and motorcycle parts that grow into playful figures. The installation is designed to be socially critical, challenging viewers to reconsider their relationship with consumption and existence.
Complementing the sculptural elements, short poems hang on the walls throughout the exhibition space, creating a literary dimension that enhances the overall artistic experience. The combination of visual and textual elements reflects Xiao's multidisciplinary approach to addressing complex social and philosophical questions through contemporary art.
