In the Bruseum the exhibition "Gardens in the Exosphere" sheds light on the literary aspects in Gunter Brus' highly varied work. Poems, sketches and notes, document the genesis of Bruce's individual picture-poems. "Romanticism and Early Modernism" presents an overview of the collection assets over several years.
Gardens in the Exosphere
Poems and Picture-Poems by Günter Brus
Curator: Roman Grabner
This exhibition in the BRUSEUM sheds light for the first time on the literary aspects in Günter
Brus’ highly varied work. Not only has the artist lifted the borders between literature and fine art
with his picture-poems, he has also been active as a writer for more than 30 years. Besides
numerous contributions to magazines and columns, several novels and collected writings have
been published since 1984. The purchase of the literary estate from Günter Brus in 2009 has
enriched the BRUSEUM by an important asset. Not only are the origins of Brus’ literary work
conveyed here, but also numerous sketches, drawings and notes document the genesis of
individual picture-poems and his biographical and artistic development.
As in his Actionist works and picture-poems, Günter Brus frequently bursts the limits of the
genre and norms in his literary work, too. Above all, the literary principle of “continuous writing”
is characteristic of Brus: (in)homogenous body texts flow together without chapters that
structure them or a beginning and end. Instructions in direct speech, dialogues, quotes and
biographical observations alternate with each other, while new word creations, puns and
spoonerisms provide continual linguistic wit and irony.
The literary estate, consisting of over 700 notebooks, work manuscripts and designs with more
than 20,000 written pages, serves as the starting point for an exhibition that follows the traces
of the linguistic artist Günther Brus. Numerous picture-poems from every decade of his work
illustrate the close relationship between his drawings and writings, showing how Brus’ pictorial
thinking shapes the language of his literature.
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Romanticism and Early Modernism
Permanent Exhibition openings: Oct 5, 2012
Curator: Peter Peer
Through its exhibition and collection activities the Neue Galerie Graz has accompanied and
documented the development of the most varied contemporary artistic trends since the 1960s.
In addition there is a segment of art from the 19th and early 20th century, the cornerstone of
which was laid with the foundation of the Joanneum, and which has also been regularly
extended over the years.
The Neue Galerie Collection developed as a result a variety of artistic directions and media,
ranging from historical to contemporary, from local to international positions. Artistic currents
represented are Biedermeier, Jugendstil, (regional) forms of Expressionism and Classical
Modernism, positions of Austrian and international painting after 1945 (including the so-called
“trigon” countries), Viennese Actionism, Media and Concept Art etc., in such varied media as
painting, graphics, sculpture, photography, video and installation works.
This variety is to be conveyed to the public as part of a permanent yet at the same time flexibly
conceived exhibition collection in the Joanneum Quarter. This means that individual parts of the
exhibition are exchanged or renewed at regular intervals. This ensures the widest possible
overview of the collection assets over several years, and, moreover, a so-called “permanent
exhibition” becomes more attractive by continuous change.
Universalmuseum Joanneum, Press Office
Sabine Bergmann T: +43/316/8017-9211 F: +43/316/8017-9253 sabine.bergmann@museum-joanneum.at P +43-316/8017-9213 F +43-316/8017-9253 presse@museum-joanneum.at
Opening: Oct 5, 2012, 7pm
Neue Galerie Graz
Joanneum Quarter, 8010 Graz
Hours: Tues–Sun: 10am–5pm
Special opening hours: 1st January (New Year’s Day), 1 - 6pm
Open at normal times on the following public holidays: 26th October (National Day), 1st November (All Saints), 8th December (Immaculate Conception), 26th December (Boxing Day), 31st December (New Year’s Eve), 6th January. Closed on 24th/25th December (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day)
Admission:
Adults €8
Groups of 7 or more, senior citizens, conscripts and those doing civilian service, people with disabilities €6
School pupils, apprentices, students under 27 €3
School pupils in class groups € 1.50
Family ticket (2 adults and children under 14) € 16
Children under 6 free