La Résistance Lives On

Demonstrations against the already oldish black and blue coalition in Austria have long abated. The squares in Vienna and other cities are no longer filled with hundreds of thousands of protestors. All that’s left as a testament to the once powerful resistance movement are a few websites on the Internet. Gradually the majority of the population has become reconciled to the fact that government hallways are currently infested with the spirit of extreme rightwing populism.
Nevertheless, from time to time, Austria’s political tranquility is disturbed by a reminder that not everybody has obediently joined the ranks of the silent majority. The association for contemporary art from Graz is until mid-May presenting several positions from the unflagging resistance movement, protesting “the existence of this government … national socialism, racism and globalization.” Entitled Andauernder Widerstand gegen Machverhältnisse (Continuing Resistance Against Power Relations), the exhibition expresses the discontent of several artists who have for some time now been involved in the fight against power. Alexander Brener and Barbara Schurz are the most recognized and radical critics of the Austrian and international neo-liberal political establishment. Bady Minck won second prize at the Austrian Web Resistance Awards in 2000 with her work Elektrofrühstück. The list of artists includes Helmut Kandl, Johanna Kandl, Martin Krenn, Julius Deutschbauer, and Gerhard Spring.
Vladan Šír

01.01.2001