Graz Considers the Difficult Easy

If you find yourself wanting to visit one of Europe’s intimate cities this summer, but dreading the swarms at the Venice Biennale and Art Basel, consider the Styriarte festival from the 24th of June to the 24th of July. Anyone who loves old-world style winding streets, intimate courtyards, and the flair of Southern Europe is always thrilled by the stunning location.

More than just a celebration of classical musical, Styriarte is also a philosophical exploration of the world around us. Past themes have ranged from traditional, focusing on Mozart, Beethoven or Bach, to thought provoking, for example in 1998 when the theme was “Paradise Lost?” or in 2009 when the dignity of mankind was explored. 2011 will take a look at “The Difficult Easy” or to be more precise, why is it that some people are able to take the most difficult tasks and make them seem easy? Or in music, why are the most light and delicate scores often the ones that require the most technical skill?

The star of the show is often the conductor and founder of Styriarte, Berlin-born Nikolaus Harnoncourt. His name is internationally synonymous with progressive methods of conducting and the reworking of long-lost scores. A highlight for classical music lovers is not only the brilliant performers, but also their approach to Early Music.

Experience all the cultural charm Graz has to offer and simply check out our privately owned place,  White Line Hotels edit  Schlossberghotel. Over looking the city of Graz, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the hotel is a cultural centre in and of itself. Every room boasts original art works, hand selected antiques and state of the art technology. With one of the best breakfasts in the city and plenty of local Styrian wines on the menu, what’s not to love?

Hollerer/Marte: Do we need to have an accident?

Kunsthaus Graz, Graz

There’s a reason why the Eskimos famously have so many words for snow, right? Truth be told, the Inuit languages have about as many words for the frozen stuff coming out of the sky as the English language, but let’s take the legend as more interesting than the truth, because it is, and that’s because it’s meant to say something about what a society sees as important. So, on that note, there’s a reason why we have so many ways to express the feeling of not being able to take our eyes off of something bad happening, right? Whatever variation of train wrecks or car crashes or whatever else you personally prefer, we like accidents, and we like to watch them. Just type the word ‘accidents’ into a YouTube search and take a look if you need further persuasion (my personal title favorites include “accidents amazing” and “Bad accidents! -mUsT wAtCh!-“).

There’s another thing about accidents beyond the voyeurism, however. Without accidents, we’d probably never create anything new, not even new phrases to talk about how much we like accidents. The link between accidents and innovations would certainly come as no surprise to filmmaker and performance artist Sabine Marte, winner of last year’s Diagonale prize for innovative filmmaking and half of the artistic force behind “Do we need to have an accident?”. Together with internationally acclaimed sculptor Clemens Hollerer, three-dimensional montage techniques collide with film montage techniques into another kind of accident you won’t be able to take your eyes off of.

Opening March 10, 2011 and running until May 15, 2011 at  Kunsthaus Graz, Lendkai 1, 8020 Graz, Austria. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 6pm.

Want a place to stay in Graz that’s not some “order off the shelf” interior concept – White Line Hotels edit Schlossberghotels‘ owners artful eyes and creative hands have created a truly layered concept; it is mature yet fresh, aged and yet youthful –a house that has, over the years, become an insiders place.

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Categories: Graz, Art, Exhibitions

Contributing writer: Melissa Frost

Design in Graz: You Beast!

There’s a little bench from Designerei Graz in Austria, that making big noise in the design blogosphere. The sleek black of the Getier (creature) looks better than your average park bench, but it’s not until you notice the chain attaching it to the ground underneath that the similarities to a wild animal really come into play. Suddenly the bench’s legs take on the qualities of fore and hind appendages, and the slight angles at each of the four corners, look like shoulders. That’s when you realize just how clever the chain actually is in the design of seating for public areas. It allows for easy movement, but also makes it completely safe from theft. It’s no surprise that the piece recently won an award for ‘Design in Public Spaces.’

The philosophy of Designeri is to create products that release their inner qualities. The approach is analytical, but they also admit that they’ve got a good sense of humour when it comes to design. That sense of humour comes across wonderfully in the Getier, which we hope to see soon in parks across Europe.

We’re no strangers to design in Graz, White Line’s Schlossberghotel is there. Every room exudes local char, and with over 400 works of art in the public spaces and private rooms of the hotel, more than the scenery will take your breath away.

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Categories: Graz, Design

Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter

Robot Dreams

Kunsthaus Graz, Graz

The Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling once said, “Fantasy is the impossible made probable. Science fiction is the improbable made possible.” What he said about science fiction could easily be said about a lot of the arts, but also easily about the scientific pursuit of artificial intelligence. Not so long ago it would have seemed improbable that “robot soldiers” could be used in combat. That particular shift from improbability to possibility has already been seen. Whether these kinds of advancements are embraced as positive progress of mankind’s capabilities, or dreaded as the harbingers of a Man vs. Machine Terminator-esque apocalyptic future, really does boil down to personal viewpoint.

This is where art comes back into the story. Art can deal with social and political subject matter, but ultimately it’s always as just as subjective as one’s personal opinion on, for example and to stay on subject, whether robots are a triumph of science or something to be feared. In Robot Dreams, Kunsthaus Graz’s second co-production with Basel’s Jean Tinguely Museum, robots become a medium for an artistic exploration of ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence, differing definitions of what intelligence is, as well as robot-associated concepts such as power, control, and fear. Don’t let the overwhelmingly positive title of the exhibition fool you though. Despite the usage of Robot Dreams rather than, say, Robot Nightmares, the exhibition maintains a critical tone even if aiming for a robot-like detachment.

October 9, 2010 – February 20, 2011 at  Kunsthaus Graz, Lendkai 1, 8020 Graz, Austria. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 6pm.

Stay at the art-packed Schlossberghotel in Graz…it’s anything but Robotic.

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Categories: Graz, Art, Exhibitions

Contributing writer: Melissa Frost

Graz: Elevate Festival 2010

From October 21^st to October 26^th 2010, Graz’s Elevate Festival – set in the grounds of our own Schlossberghotel - once again sets out to stimulate new ways of thinking and listening by means of an extraordinary combination of electronic music, art and political discourse.

Elevate highlights the role and importance of social movements as well as progressive initiatives in civil society in generating positive change in our society as a whole. At the same time, Elevate presents many live acts that offer fascinating odysseys into innovative worlds of sound far off the beaten path.

Change, Mobilize, Communicate – catchwords that highlight the practice-oriented approach of this year’s discourse programme. Together with international stars like Mike Bonanno of The Yes Men and representatives of some of the world’s largest grassroots environmental organisations, such as Nnimmo Bassey of Friends of the Earth International and Bill Mc Kibben of 350.org, Elevate aims to raise both awareness and motivation for personal and collective action. That means no more standing around and watching, but coming together to develop strategies for combating the climate crisis, social inequality and the economic crisis. Renowned experts and activists from Austria and abroad will discuss the importance and the possibilities of personal involvement, citizens’ initiatives and social movements from both global and local perspectives. The accompanying documentary film programme gives further impulse and includes the Austrian premiere of “Cultures of Resistance“ (USA/2010).

The performing artists at Elevate have one thing in common: the courage to break away from conventions and satisfy their personal need to find their own voice, far removed from the mainstream. Elevate offers a musical journey away from well-known Best-Of-Sets, challenging both artists and audiences alike. Newcomers like Mount Kimbie, Hudson Mohawke and Joy Orbison perform alongside established stars like Robert Hood, Terre Thaemlitz and Merzbow. In selecting the acts, the focus was set on innovation and the willingness to look beyond one’s own backyard. Artistic horizons can be explored, shared and expanded not only at live-shows but also at workshops on music production, online radio and visual art as well as at the scheduled discussion on music journalism.

http://2010.elevate.at/

Thinking of making a last minute dash to be there?  Schlossberghotel still has some suites available, so do the festival White Line style.

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Categories: Graz, Culture, Events