Friendship is an extremely existential and timeless theme that is deeply linked to human existence. It is a theme that runs through all historical epochs and extends to all cultures of the world. At the same time, the theme of friendship is particularly topical right now: in view of the threatening world situation, the numerous crises, conflicts and increasing social divisions, it seems all the more important that the Dom Museum Wien is dedicating its new exhibition to an interpersonal, reconciliatory theme.
"Especially in times when polarizing black-and-white thinking in politics, society and social media as well as a strong egocentricity through Instagram and Co are increasingly noticeable, it seemed enormously important to us to organize an exhibition at the Dom Museum Wien that focuses on the connecting, the I-you relationship and the dialogical principle," says museum director Johanna Schwanberg, who curated the show "In aller Freundschaft" together with Klaus Speidel. An exhibition title was deliberately chosen that goes beyond the purely positive, often idealized connotation of the word friendship as the unity of two souls and signals that this is not a glorified "peace, joy and egg cake" show, but that problematic aspects in connection with this form of relationship are also addressed.
Switzin Twikirize, Connected by the Roots, 2022, Dom Museum Wien, Otto Mauer Contemporary, purchase made possible by Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG, Copyright: Switzin Twikirize, Photo: L. Deinhardstein
Friendship is a basic human need: the relationship with others, spiritual closeness and affinity characterize our lives. Its universal significance as part of human social behavior, whether on a personal or socio-political level, makes it a recurring theme of artistic exploration.
The Dom Museum Wien approaches this theme with the help of top-class works of art: graphic art, painting, sculpture, photography, video and installation art together form a space for exploring the facets of friendship. In addition to national and international loans and newly commissioned works, the show also offers insights into the collections of the Dom Museum Wien.
The Dom Museum Wien is one of the most appropriate venues to host an exhibition on the theme of friendship, which has shaped humanity: Friendship thinking is closely linked to the Christian background of the museum's historical sacred treasures. "The history of religion is pervaded by the awareness of the infinite distance between the human and the divine, which makes the idea of a genuine friendship with the gods, with God, actually impossible. The powerful thing in Judaism and later in Christianity is the idea of the covenant that God makes with mankind. This covenant is a covenant of friendship," says Cardinal Christoph Schönborn in an interview for the exhibition catalog.
Johann Till the Younger, Way to Emmaus, 1888, Belvedere Vienna, Donation Maurer Collection, Belvedere, Vienna, Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna
As in all exhibitions at the Dom Museum Wien since its reopening in 2017, "In aller Freundschaft" does not tell a chronological story, but rather works with contrasts and juxtapositions of works from different art eras. Using sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs and video installations, the exhibition spans a broad arc from the Middle Ages to the present day. The selection includes works from the museum's historical holdings as well as from the Otto Mauer Contemporary collection, but also includes top-class loans from national and international collections, museums, foundations and galleries. "In aller Freundschaft" includes works by numerous contemporary artists in the exhibition, some of which have been specially developed for the show or newly acquired for the collection.
With works and pieces by: Theodore Alconiere, Christian Ludwig Attersee, Jean Béraud, Ákos Birkás, Pierre Bismuth, Günter Brus, Annibale Carracci, Claude Closky, Die Damen, Peter Fendi, Heribert Friedl, Marlene Fröhlich, Helene Funke, Gustav Gaul, Gelatin/Gelitin, Dorothee Golz, Juliette Green, Lisa Großkopf, Nick Hagen, Robert Hammerstiel, Xenia Hausner, Bettina Hutschek, Susanna Inglada, Franz Christoph Janneck, Leander Kaiser, Dejan Kaludjerović, Barbara Kapusta, Oleg Karpov, Mayya Kelova, Anders Krisár, Maria Lassnig, Thomas Lévy-Lasne, Master of the Albrecht Altarpiece, Carl von Merode, Johann Josef Mildner, Tracey Moffatt, Nicola Muirhead, Muntean/Rosenblum, Hermann Nitsch, Matthias Noggler, Lisl Ponger, Arnulf Rainer, Dieter Roth, Gerhard Rühm, Maruša Sagadin, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Hans Schäufelein and employees of the Dürer workshop, Dominik Steiger, Gudmund Stenersen, Johann Till the Younger, Switzin Twikirize, Tanzio da Varallo, Robin Waart, Nives Widauer, Oswald Wiener, Carina Yepez, Yuge Zhou and historical artists whose names have not survived.
September 27, 2024 to August 24, 2025
www.dommuseum.at
Susanna Inglada, Nothing Twice II, 2024, Dom Museum Vienna, Otto Mauer Contemporary, purchase made possible by Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG, Susanna Inglada / Galerie Maurits van de Laa, Photo: Susanna Inglada
