Paintings from 6 Decades

Josef Mikl – Paintings from 6 decades. Josef Mikl is one of the most influential artists since World War II. Born in Vienna in 1929, he lived and worked in his hometown until his death in 2008.

His CV includes impressive international achievements, countless exhibitions and tributes. These, as well as the many projects he was commissioned for, are indicators of his importance. His name is associated not only with his long tenure as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, but also with his affiliation with the legendary Galerie St. Stephan art group (which included Wolfgang Hollegha, Josef Mikl, Markus Prachensky and Arnuf Rainer).

Mikl is indelibly linked to Austrian art history, particularly through his greatest commission, which was the interior design of the Grosser Redoutensaal at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. After the entire Grosser Redoutensaal was destroyed in a fire in 1992, the Republic of Austria decided to rebuild it. A competition was launched to find an artist suitable for the job. Josef Mikl managed to impress with his paintings based on works by Karl Kraus, Johann Nestroy, Elias Canetti and Ferdinand Raimund, and managed to sway the jury to his side.

Josef Mikl’s paintings may appear abstract to the eye of an observer who is not used to his art. The artist has insisted on several occasions that there is no abstract art. After observing and taking the titles of the works as clues for a long time and allowing oneself to “enter” the painting, the observer will be able to recognize the shapes and objects of the painting. After immersing oneself in the shape and visual language of Mikl’s works, an exciting sensation will emerge. The artist himself explains the process of immersing oneself, of engaging with art: there are few who understand paintings properly – one wants to think first and then observe. Observation is an intellectual task.

Gabriele Baumgartner

Biography

1929 Josef Mikl was born in Vienna
1946 – 1948 attended the Höhere Graphische Bundes-Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt in Vienna
1948 – 1955 attended Josef Dobrowski’s master painting course at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna
1951 – 1955 member of the Vienna Art Club
1956 co-founder of the Galerie St. Stephan art group (together with Wolfgang Hollegh, Markus Prachenski and Arnulf Rainer)
1968 XXXIV. Venice Biennale
1969 – 1997 Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna
1983, 1985, 1988 and 1990 taught master classes in painting, nude drawing and sculpture at the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Salzburg
1990 Austrian honorary award for science and art
1994 – 1997 Created a large mural and twenty-two murals for the Großer Redoutensaal in the Hofburg in Vienna.
2004 he received the great honorary decoration in gold for services to the Republic of Austria
2008 Josef Mikl died in Vienna

Curator: Günther Holler – Schuster

Location:

Danubiana, Čunovo, Slovakia

Date:

from 05.10.2024– 20.10.2024

Opening hours:

Monday – closed
Tuesday – Sunday
10:00 – 18:00

Admission:

Adults – €10
Family (2 adults and 2 students) – 20 €
Pensioners (over 62 years old) – 5 €
Students – 5 €
Children (under 6 years old) – Free
Danubiana Club Members – Free
Disabled persons, persons over 75 years of age – Free

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