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Press conference December 15, 2006

Art in the City!!
A series of projects produced jointly by O.K and Linz09
Press conference December 15, 2006, 10 a.m., O.K Center for Contemporary Art / Mediendeck

Art in the City!!
A series of projects produced jointly by O.K and Linz09

Paradoxical but true: Linz is a city with a real penchant for art—just not in the public sphere. It’s been more than 25 years since the cityscape itself was the setting for two major, world-class exhibitions (Forum Metall, Forum Design) that made a big splash in serious international art circles. Aside from the large-scale events and festival-related installations that have been the outstanding features of Linz cultural life over recent decades, the exhibition activities in public spaces on the part of practitioners of the plastic arts have been limited to some remarkable individual efforts that we now want to follow up on and take to the next level.

The O.K, one of Linz’s foremost cultural facilities, will be collaborating with Linz09 to get art out from behind closed doors and into the public realm. And that means contemporary art, the art being done right now. From 2007 through 2009, a select contingent of artists will be installing their works in three highly unusual and provocative settings: the store windows, the underground passageways and the rooftops of Linz.

“The most exciting form of mediating the public’s encounter with art is one in which art boldly goes right to the people themselves. This sets the stage for new experiences on unfamiliar terrain,” stated Linz 2009 Artistic Director Martin Heller and Martin Sturm, head of the O.K.

Three points were equally decisive for the origination of this collaborative project: its uniqueness, its locality and the continuity of its presence from now to 2009.

Art in the City!! is a perfect fit in the lineup of projects slated to launch the Capital of Culture initiative in the spring of 2007:

• Upper Austrian musician Hubert von Goisern will serve as musical ambassador on a tour of Eastern Europe.
• Cooperation with Crossing Europe will focus the spotlight of international attention on Linz.
• Art in the City!! is being staged right here, especially for the people of Linz and vicinity.

In the words of Governor Josef Pühringer: “Upper Austria is extremely proud of the great work the O.K Center for Contemporary Art has been doing. Its production-oriented approach is very well suited to carrying out this project.”

2007
SCHAURAUSCH – A Shop Window Viewing Spree
Art in 50 Shop Windows
Produced in cooperation with Linzer City Ring
May 12 - June 2, 2007
Opening: May 11, 2007

In 2007, the O.K will open the portals of its Temple of the Muses and dispatch its artists out into downtown Linz’s temples of retailing, where they’ll transform the boutiques and department stores along Landstraße from the Main Square to the Casino into a dynamic gallery of art. More than 30 artists from all over the world will be installing their concepts and visions in 50 display cases, mall passages and on building façades. Extraordinary works, objects, photos and videos will dramatically confront browsing pedestrians with samplings of contemporary art.

Erich Watzl, city councilman in charge of cultural affairs, stated: “Installing works of art in downtown shop windows in 2007 shows that culture and commerce are already closely interrelated.” Successful collaboration with the City Ring and the tremendous commitment by its member merchants in bringing Part 1 of this trilogy to fruition confirms that the public is very interested indeed in contributing to the Capital of Culture initiative.

2008
The River of Forgetfulness
Art in the Tunnels

According to Greek mythology, humans who drink the waters of the River Lethe forget all earthly sorrows. Psychoanalysis, on the other hand, teaches us that we can repress what we’ve experienced but we can’t forget it. But we can also want to remember. To this end, O.K will be going underground in 2008. Into the realm of shadows. Into Hades. Into the storehouse of remembrances in the cellars and subterranean passageways of Linz.

2009
So Close to Heaven
Rooftop Art

According to the ancient Greeks, the Elysian fields located on Earth’s western margin were the final resting place of the souls of the heroic and virtuous. This was a place of rose-dotted meadows and perpetual springtime; those who dwelt there spent their time with riding and gymnastics, games and music. Nowadays, we imagine paradise much differently: still far, far away but accessible on an all-inclusive, round-trip tour offering exotic panoramas viewed from a safe distance. Consider this, though: we’re so close to heaven here at home too. And to get us there in 2009, the O.K will be inviting some artists to ascend to the rooftops of Linz. A couple of rungs higher on Jacob’s ladder, round about Arena Square.

The Project Partners
O.K CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
Director: Martin Sturm
Dametzstraße 30, 4020 Linz
Telefon +43-(0)732-784178-0
Fax +43-(0)732-775684
schaufenster@ok-centrum.at
www.ok-centrum.at
Project Manager: Rainer Jessl

LINZ 2009 – KULTURHAUPTSTADT EUROPAS ORGANISATIONS GMBH
Artistic Director: Martin Heller
www.linz09.at

Schaurausch Project Partner:
LINZER CITY RING
Management: Hildegard Weber
www.linzer-city.at

Press Officers:
O.K: Maria Falkinger, Dametzstr. 30, 4020 Linz, Tel: +43.732.784178-203, m.falkinger@ok-centrum.at; www.ok-centrum.at
Linz 2009: Kristina Hödl, Gruberstraße 2, 4020 Linz, Tel: +43.732.2009-24, kristina.hoedl@linz09.at