I was wandering with my dear friend through the alleys and streets of Vienna, the beautiful capital city of Austria, searching for one of the few museums we had left out of our tour of the city’s attractions: the KunstHausWien. Approaching the Danube, following the narrow streets under a light rain, interrupted by scattered rays of sun, we started to notice colourful tiles and vases, lively sculptures spotted in the corners of the street. Finally, we arrived under a wonderful palace, completely decorated with blue, white and black squares, plunged in the green and brown of the plants that grow inside the museum. Entering the exhibition venue, we found a place with a wavering floor, walls that completely avoid straight lines and a garden on the roof and in the terrace. The first floor of the museum is completely devoted to Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austrian artist, architect and lit bit philosopher and poet. Colours, colours and even more colours! Hundertwasser used for his paintings, graphics and even tapestry, many colours and symbolisms, like the spiral. He even used gold and silvers, putting them together with others colours which he personally prepared. He was bound to nature and to the idea of preserving it, which it can be found in his architectural concepts and his project of a village that is shown in the museum. In 1958 he wrote the “Mouldiness Manifesto Against Rationalism in Architecture”, in which he resisted rationalism, straight lines and even consumerism, he promoted freedom, in creativity and in living in harmony with nature. You really lose yourself admiring the detailed works of this great genius who decided to be buried in New Zealand under a Tulip Tree, to be again in harmony with nature. I definitely suggest rediscovering the works and philosophy of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, maybe not one of the most famous Austrian artist but certainly one of the most curious and all worthy.
The other floors of the museum host different exhibitions over the year. We found the photograph exhibition by Linda McCartney, an interesting way to peer inside the rock life of her family and friend, with many portraits of iconic protagonists of the sixties, but also to discover the other side of her life, devoted to her children and nature. This year, until the 1st of November you have the possibility to look at a retrospective of Joel Meyerowitz photographs.
When we finished our tour of the KunstHaus, we sat a little in the museum café, with its tables decorated with china tiles and surrounded by plants and trees. When we got outside, the sun was shining and we had the impression of being thrown out of a beautiful and enchanted world.
So, if you are visiting Vienna, why don’t you stop by the KunstHous and start to explore a new artistic world.