Secession Vienna – The Birthplace of Modern Viennese Art
Secession Wien is a symbol of artistic rebellion and innovation in the center of Vienna. It was founded in 1897 by avant-garde artists who seceded from the Vienna Künstlerhaus (Genossenschaft der bildenden Künstler Wiens), forming the “Vereinigung bildender Künstler Österreichs – Secession”.
The Secession included members such as Joseph Maria Olbrich, Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, and Josef Hoffmann, among others. They believed that art should have a place of organic development where old conservative restrictions would not hold. They claimed “To every age its art, to every art its freedom”. The dedicated building was designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich in 1897. The distinguished artist Gustav Klimt, a founding member, significantly influenced the aesthetic of the Vienna Secession. His paintings have achieved global recognition and are considered key works of the Art Nouveau movement.
The structure is made in the raucous style of Art Nouveau, symbolizing the contrast between the new, unchained art and the older, traditional Vienna. The building is white and cubic, with a golden dome of laurel leaves symbolizing the victory for the liberty of art.
The Secession building also has a number of other exhibition spaces, including the main hall, which allows attaining the spirit of the art institution via temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists. The heart and soul of this building, however, are the Beethoven Frieze by Gustav Klimt. The artist created this masterpiece for the 14th Secessionist exhibition in 1902, and the frieze, which is over 34 meters in length, pays tribute to Beethoven’s Ninth symphony. This piece depicts a human on the road of searching happiness and every time he makes an effort to attain it is either fended off by the evil forces of the world or shattered. In the final section, titled “Hymn to Joy – This Kiss to the Whole World,” the Arts (especially music) lead humanity to bliss; a choir of angels references Beethoven’s Ninth and Schiller’s “Ode to Joy.”
The Secession building embodies Vienna’s artistic and cultural revival on the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. At the time being, the city has become a haven of intellectuals, artists and musicians, all stemming for one melting pot, and it turned into the focus of European art.
Today, Secession Wien is still Vienna’s central place for contemporary art, and preserves the main idea of its founders: to stimulate creative innovation. It hosts exhibitions that challenge the limits of art and offer provocative statements that feature the newest works of artists from around the world.
The Secession Wien provides the artistic architecture experience, Beethoven Frieze message, exhibitions, and events of various intentions.
