Wolfgang Herzig’s 70th birthday is a worthy occasion for a retrospective of his work at the Essl Museum, including not only works from past decades but also very recent paintings. Since the 1960s, Herzig has been creating an individualistic, non-conformist oeuvre. Realistic in its orientation, it occupies a singular position in Austrian post-war modernism. Agnes and Karlheinz Essl have known the artist for many years and have acquired central pieces for their collection. The art collectors insisted on designing this exhibition together with the artist. About 30 works from five decades, including a number of art loans, will be on show.

Herzig became well-known in the late 1960s in the context of the Wirklichkeiten exhibition curated by Otto Breicha, where a number of young artists, including Martha Jungwirth and Kurt Kocherscheidt, presented their work as an alternative stance to the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism and the abstract artists of Galerie St.Stephan.

Die Schaukel, 1972 Oil on canvas 170 x 170 cm Photo: Franz Schachinger, Wien © Sammlung Essl Privatstiftung	Badende, 1973 Oil on canvas 150 x 206 cm Photo: Stefan Fiedler – Salon Iris, Wien © Sammlung Essl Privatstiftung

Never one to follow artistic fashions or zeitgeist phenomena, Herzig pursued a figurative type of art, often critical of social realities, and created a consistent oeuvre. Whereas, in the 1960s, his eccentric compositions were ornamental and figurative, lushly colourful, his formal structure quieted down in the 1970s. He turned his attention to the human figure in all its weaknesses, showing an image of humanity which gives no heightened version of reality but concentrates on everyday aspects. While some of his works have a flavour of the social criticism of the likes of Otto Dix or George Grosz, Herzig always remains calmer, never distorting his protagonists into caricatures. Herzig reveals the commonplace, or “ugly”, which does not feature in the public limelight. Never “exposed”, his figures are invested with a certain dignity despite being shown in all nakedness.

It is particularly impressive to observe the stylistic development of the artist, who has achieved, over the years, a very idiosyncratic form of plasticity that coexists with complete two-dimensionality. The human figures in his paintings often look very modern, and yet their formal presence is reminiscent of Romanesque depictions of Christ. His palette, too, has evolved. The stark contrasts of his early period have become toned down, evoking the reduced colour palette of Cubism. This becomes particularly apparent in the recent works which reach the exhibition fresh from the artist’s studio.

Weblink

www.wolfgangherzig.org >>

Catalogue

The >WOLFGANG HERZIG< exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue which includes a preface by Prof. Karlheinz Essl, an essay by Brigitte Borchhardt-Birbaumer and an interview with Wolfgang Herzig.

Art Education

The art education team offers tours and workshops for the exhibition. The current event calendar can be found under ART EDUCATION >>

Free shuttle bus

Visitors can reach the Essl Museum conveniently by free bus shuttle from Vienna city centre, Albertinaplatz 2 (Tues – Sun, 10 a.m., 12 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and return)

Press photos

Press photos are available upon request at the Press Office or via download from PRESSE >>

PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE

Erwin Uhrmann (head), uhrmann@essl.museum, +43 (0) 2243/370 50 60
Regina Holler-Strobl, holler-strobl@essl.museum, +43 (0) 2243/370 50 62