Viennacontemporary 2024

From September 12th to 15th, 2024, viennacontemporary, Austria’s leading contemporary art fair, will take place at Messe Wien with a dynamic mix of renowned galleries, emerging artists and curated exhibitions. This year’s theme, Energy, will address global sustainability challenges and the future of energy, bringing together professionals, collectors and art lovers from around the world for a rich exchange of ideas and creativity.

The VCT STATEMENT 2024 programme, organised in partnership with the ERSTE Foundation, will include two panel discussions entitled Nexus Thinking, focusing on the intersection of energy, geopolitics, technology and human impact. In addition, the special exhibition The Colour of Energy, co-produced by the Salzburger Kunstverein and curated by Mariela Baciak, will explore how energy shapes our past, present and future from an artistic perspective.

It will feature performances and installations by artists such as Sophie Jung, who explores climate anxiety, and Shubigi Rao, who critiques environmental exploitation. Works by Oleksiy Radynski, whose film examines settler colonialism, and Judith Fegerl, whose sculptures explore energy and tension, will also be highlighted.

A new section, CONTEXT, curated by Pernilla Holmes, will feature nine solo presentations of artists from the late 20th century, focusing on those whose contributions to art history have been overlooked. This section will reflect on how past innovations continue to influence today’s artistic landscape.

ZONE1, curated by Bruno Mokross, will highlight emerging talent connected to Vienna, with ten solo exhibitions exploring how the city’s unique conditions attract international artists and shape their work.

During the event, the viennacontemporary | Bildrecht SOLO Award will be presented, honouring exceptional artistic potential with a total prize of €4,000, shared between the artist and the supporting gallery.