Vienna 1900 . Under the Spotlight

The Foundation Beyeler has opened a new exhibition in Switzerland. The theme is contemporary art from Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century. The show features about 200 works including painting by Gustav Klimt, and Egon Schiele. There are also architectural models, furniture, textile designs, glass and silver objects, posters, and photographs.

Says Sam Keller, director of Foundation Beyeler: “Vienna around the turn of the century was the birthplace of modern art. A special period during which Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele created extraordinary art works and their contemporaries revolutionized modern art.”

Some of the styling of the works on display is so iconic that even today it looks modern and fresh.

Says Barbara Seffen, the guest curator: “They were the first people to design things as both artworks and useful objects. So the frontiers between art and utilty were broken down and have remained so ever since.”

The exhibition runs until the 16th January.

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=41163&int_modo=1