A roundtable discussion organized by Ana Džokić, Marc Neelen (STEALTH.unlimited, Rotterdam/Belgrade) and Stefan
Gruber (Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna)
Vienna’s recent wave of urbanization, euphorically referred to as the second Gründerzeit, is embedded in a discourse
that aims at positioning Vienna as a global player in a European competition of cities. Indeed Vienna is growing and is to
reach the magic number of 2 Million inhabitants by 2030.
At the same time, the city also continues to affirm its Red Vienna legacy and its commitment to welfare policies. But with
the century-mark of what can be seen as the emergence of Vienna’s public welfare program getting into sight, signs are
out that change is immanent. An accumulation of triggers is step-by-step embracing the city: the on-going financialization
of urban centers around the world, the tightening of EU regulatory frameworks on Vienna’s public policies, the electoral
shift that is affecting the political balance in the city, demographic changes that gradually erode its welfare system—to
name just a few.
That it could profoundly affect the city is clear. Just what type of change it triggers, and how deep it will carve its traces
into the urban life of its citizens, is still up for debate. Not much of what seems to be heading to Vienna is however being
brought up to public discussion. Nevertheless, what could possibly make Vienna immune to the disruptions ravaging many of
its European neighbors?
The MAK NITE Lab is an exercise in accessing the likelihood of an upcoming Viennese crisis, in order to start thinking of
possible alternate futures.
It is a roundtable discussion, or speculation rather, organized by Ana Džokic, Marc Neelen (STEALTH.unlimited, Rotterdam/Belgrade)
and Stefan Gruber (STUDIOGRUBER, Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna) with guests Andreas Exner (ecologist, researchers and publicist
on alternatives to the system of growth), Andreas Rumpfhuber (architect, founder of Expanded Design, focuses on the intersection
of architecture and economics) and Willi Hejda (member of the board IG Kultur Wien, active in establishing art, culture and
media alternatives and their policies).
The MAK NITE Lab with STEALTH.unlimited is the last of a three-part series in 2014, guest-curated by Maria Lind, Director
Tensta konsthall in Stockholm, in connection with her upcoming group exhibition for VIENNA BIENNALE 2015. The first evening
of this series in April hosted a talk by Brian Kuan Wood (“Is it Love?”, e-flux journal 2014) and a film screening
by Marysia Lewandowska (Museum Futures, 2008). The second MAK NITE Lab in November featured a talk by Fernando García-Dory
“On art, agriculture, and the countryside: possible futures of existing initiatives in the fields.”
