Sowing the Seeds

SCHALOM

SOWING THE SEEDS – Schalom/Shalom
Installation by Divjak/Weishäupl (Grass area, Vienna Heldenplatz)

On March 15, 1938 a crowd gathered on Heldenplatz cheered for the “Führer” and celebrated the so-called “Anschluss” (annexation) to the German Reich.

Seventy-five years later, in March 2013, grass will be sown on the field on which the masses shouted with enthusiasm in 1938. Slowly, the word “Shalom” is gradually becoming legible. Peace as a wish and a path for all people. “Shalom” as a delicate, growing symbol that must be taken care of.

In cooperation with
Österreichische Präsidentschaftskanzlei
Österreichische Bundesgärten
Burghauptmannschaft Österreich

Sponsored by
Vienna Insurance Group

(Duration: March 15th – November 9th 2013)



SONNENLAND

Austrian Cultural Forum, New York

Sonnenland

Installation
(Film 16mm/DVD, 16 minutes, looped)

In his video Sonnenland, Paul Divjak addresses a sensitive subject. He filmed handicapped children, showing the viewer the fine line between documentation and voyeurism via a sociopolitically controversial subject. Rather than violating privacy, his camera captured the direct, playful, and authentic interaction between those involved in the video shoot.

“Videorama – Absurdity, Subversion, and Form in Austrian Video Art”
Austrian Cultural Forum, New York

Participating Artists: Renate Bertlmann, BitteBitteJaJa, Paul Divjak, Thomas Draschan, Tomas Eller, Nicolas Jasmin, Anna Jermolaewa, Leopold Kessler, Stephan Lugbauer, Rudolf Polanszky, Gerwald Rockenschaub, Hubert Sielecki, Erwin Wurm

Curators: Gerald Matt, Andreas Stadler, and Angela Stief — mehr —