Two artists revolutionize Vienna with a provocative populism satire!

Two artists revolutionize Vienna with a provocative populism satire!

What's in the Vienna Art scene? A lot, especially thanks to the captivating contemporary novel by Alexander Keppel. "Radio stories" plays in the Austrian capital between 2022 and 2023 and introduces us to the protagonists Nora and Nour. Nora, 33 years old and originally from East Berlin, is a former artist who was terminated by her advertising agency. Nour, the 23-year-old painting team from Vienna favorites with Lebanese roots, shares the fate of her older friend: Both women see themselves without perspective, without money and without love.

In order to escape this dreary situation, Nora and Nour join together and found the artist duo no/no. Her project, a populism satire that is spread over social media and artificial intelligence, is inspired by Christoph Schlingensief, an unconventional artist whose work often went beyond mere provocation. In the novel, Keppel addresses the effects of success and pressure, which burdens the creative relationship between the two women, as the project "MfD" ("with a claim" note "editor) increases more and more. Thanks to the mixture of personal drama and socially critical elements, the novel creates an exciting atmosphere.

back to the roots of the provocation

The artistic examination of provocation is an important topic that Christoph Schlingensief also moved. In 2010, this was particularly the focus when he died in the focus of the discussion about the effect of art. Schlingensief was violent against the name as a "provocateur", especially not as a "funny provocateur". He carried out projects in Vienna that should stimulate thought, such as the controversial experiment, which the audience was able to decide on the deportation of asylum seekers. In doing so, he questioned whether provocation really only serves the artist's self -staging or can have a deeper meaning.

As early as the 1990s, Schlingensief founded the "Chance 2000" party, which aimed to question the boundaries between art and politics and at the same time also combine artistic and political concerns. This ambivalence between art and social action runs through its entire work. Events like "Foreigners out. Please love Austria!" Witness to his commitment to social issues. Schlingensief saw his art as a means of social change and often asked provocative questions that continue to sail after his death.

The influence on Keppel's work

But how does the legacy of Schlingensiefs affect Alexander Keppel's work? In “radio stories” it becomes clear that the two protagonists are faced with similar questions: how far can and can art go? Can you actually do something in society with your work? Through this connection to the past, Keppel's novel also reflects the ongoing social challenges, in front of which many artists are facing, especially young people who want to assert themselves in the fragile world of contemporary art.

Since moving to Vienna in 2015, Alexander Keppel has already drawn attention to himself with his debut novel "The Second Continent" (2022) and the narrative band "UNONE", which will be released in spring 2025. He was recognized not only for his creativity, but also for his commitment to Austrian literature. The project scholarship for literature of the BMKös for its second novel "Stunt" (2023-2024) is another sign of its potential.

How is the Viennese art scene going? With artists such as Keppel, who have the courage to raise uncomfortable questions and take up the traditions of pioneers such as looping, the culture remains exciting and is a good place to discuss, reflect and of course also for provocative.