Power that causes suffering

For the Silbersommer 1996 festival in Schwaz, titled Macht und Leidenschaft (power and Pssion), the Galerie der Stadt Schwaz addressed cultural and socio-political issues with a variation on the title: Macht, die Leiden schafft/Power that causes suffering. A concrete and current reason for this exhibition were the events surrounding the East Tyrolean cultural initiative Villgrater Kulturwiese. In April 1996, the old farmhouse that had been bought by the foundation and where the Villgraten cultural area was supposed to have its center was set on fire by unknown perpetrators.

Based on this red-hot sign that art is often met with aggression and repression instead of tolerance and discussion, the most extensive research possible to document scandals, censorship, bans, etc. in various cultural areas began under considerable time pressure.

The questions were as follows: Is excitement, provocation part of 'effective art'? How is the rejection argued? To what extent is art the venue for conflicts that have their origin somewhere else, e.g. in politics? What are the consequences for those involved?

Allegations such as 'disparaging religious teachings', 'endangering young people', 'insulting of honor' or 'pornography' formed the grid against which a wide variety of cases were lined up.

The cases were documented on old rubber conveyor belts suspended from the ceiling: press texts, copies of documents, photos, letters, etc. traced the course of events and the consequences. A chronological presentation was deliberately omitted in order to clarify the impulsive and sometimes uncontrolled reactions.

Text: Andrea Hörl

‍