MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
© MAK/Georg Mayer

MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
© MAK/Georg Mayer

MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
from left to right: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000; Walter Pichler, Bed (Model), 2000
© MAK/Georg Mayer

MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
in the front: Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999; in the background: Walter Pichler, Series Bed (1998–2001)
© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021
Photo: MAK/Georg Mayer

MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
in the front: Leonor Antunes, I stand like a mirror before you, 2015; discrepancies with F.K., 2016 (Two-part installation); in the background: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000
© MAK/Georg Mayer

MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
in the background: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000
© MAK/Georg Mayer

MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000
© MAK/Georg Mayer

MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
in the front: Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999; in the background: Walter Pichler, Series Bed (1998–2001)
© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021
Photo: MAK/Georg Mayer

MAK Exhibition View, 2021
SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB
Rosemarie Castoro, Land of Lads, 1975
© MAK/Georg Mayer
Austrian Ludwig Foundation for Art and Science
The Estate of Rosemarie Castoro / Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

Guided Tour Online SIGN LANGUAGE

ZEICHENSPRACHE. Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Leonor Antunes, I stand like a mirror before you, 2015; discrepancies with F.K., 2016
Courtesy of the artist and kurimanzutto, Mexico City
© MAK/Georg Mayer

Portrait of Geta Brătescu in her studio
© Ştefan Sava

Portrait of Thomas Bayrle, MAK Permanent Collection Contemporary Art
© MAK/Mona Heiß

Portrait of Leonor Antunes
© Nick Ash

ZEICHENSPRACHE. Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler
Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000
© MAK/Aslan Kudrnofsky

Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999
© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021
Photo: Aslan Kudrnofsky/MAK

SIGN LANGUAGE

Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Wed, 10.02.2021–Sun, 25.04.2021

MAK – Museum of Applied Arts

Exhibition

SIGN LANGUAGE

Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Wed, 10.02.2021–Sun, 25.04.2021

MAK – Museum of Applied Arts

The exhibition explores the manifold means of language from the perspective of visual arts. In literature, especially in poetry, language is given a poetic or musical order. The alphabet as a sign system connects all languages and the development of script mirrors the stages of modern society, its revolutions, and ruptures. Written characters represent identities and, at the same time, digital technologies aim for universal imagery.

Through their individual (sign) language, the drawings, sculptures, and installations by artists Leonor Antunes, Thomas Bayrle, Geta Brătescu, Rosemarie Castoro, and Walter Pichler open a space for relationships, processes, and models.

The works were purchased by the Austrian Ludwig Foundation and handed over to the MAK as permanent loans in order to support the expansion of the collection with internationally renowned pieces of art.

Curator: Bärbel Vischer

VIDEO TOUR

Curator Bärbel Vischer guides online through the exhibition and provides insights into the individual (sign) language of the sculptures and installations.

Walter Pichler (1936–2012) regarded art as a program. The immanent tension between sculpture, body, and architecture characterized his oeuvre. His sculptural language begins as an image or symbol.

Rosemarie Castoro (1939–2015) developed her own language between Minimal Art and conceptual art. She combined painting, performance, stage design, and sculpture, declaring herself a “paintersculptor.”

Geta Brătescu (1926–2018) is interested in the dualism of geometric or industrial forms and draws on Constantin Brâncuși’s exploration of archaic forms in nature, art, and architecture.

Leonor Antunes (* 1972) portrays stories of the 20th century on art, architecture, and design in her sculptural works and installations. She examines the language of natural materials, such as wood, fabrics, leathers, or metal.

Leonor Antunes (* 1972) portrays stories of the 20th century on art, architecture, and design in her sculptural works and installations. She examines the language of natural materials, such as wood, fabrics, leathers, or metal.

Thomas Bayrle (* 1937) investigates mechanisms of language, images, everyday objects, and creates ornaments of mass. His “superforms” such as Jesus, Mao, the highway, or the smartphone refer to political, industrial, cultural, and religious icons.

Media

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>© MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

© MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>© MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

© MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>from left to right: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000; Walter Pichler, Bed (Model), 2000</div><div>© MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

from left to right: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000; Walter Pichler, Bed (Model), 2000

© MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>in the front: Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999; in the background: Walter Pichler, Series Bed (1998–2001)</div><div><div>© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021</div><div>Photo: MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></div><div> </div></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

in the front: Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999; in the background: Walter Pichler, Series Bed (1998–2001)

© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021

Photo: MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>in the front: Leonor Antunes, I stand like a mirror before you, 2015; discrepancies with F.K., 2016 (Two-part installation); in the background: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000</div><div>© MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

in the front: Leonor Antunes, I stand like a mirror before you, 2015; discrepancies with F.K., 2016 (Two-part installation); in the background: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000

© MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>in the background: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000</div><div>© MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

in the background: Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000

© MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000</div><div>© MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000

© MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>in the front: Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999; in the background: Walter Pichler, Series Bed (1998–2001)</div><div><div>© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021</div><div>Photo: MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></div><div> </div></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

in the front: Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999; in the background: Walter Pichler, Series Bed (1998–2001)

© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021

Photo: MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div>MAK Exhibition View, 2021</div><div>SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB</div><div>Rosemarie Castoro, Land of Lads, 1975</div><div>© MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div><div>Austrian Ludwig Foundation for Art and Science </div><div>The Estate of Rosemarie Castoro / Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac</div><div> </div></div><br /></BODY>

MAK Exhibition View, 2021

SIGN LANGUAGE: Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Central Space MAK DESIGN LAB

Rosemarie Castoro, Land of Lads, 1975

© MAK/Georg Mayer

Austrian Ludwig Foundation for Art and Science

The Estate of Rosemarie Castoro / Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

<BODY><div>ZEICHENSPRACHE. Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Leonor Antunes, I stand like a mirror before you, 2015; discrepancies with F.K., 2016</div><div>Courtesy of the artist and kurimanzutto, Mexico City</div><div>© MAK/Georg Mayer</div><div> </div></BODY>

ZEICHENSPRACHE. Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Leonor Antunes, I stand like a mirror before you, 2015; discrepancies with F.K., 2016

Courtesy of the artist and kurimanzutto, Mexico City

© MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY><div><div>Portrait of Geta Brătescu in her studio</div><div>© Ştefan Sava</div></div><br /></BODY>

Portrait of Geta Brătescu in her studio

© Ştefan Sava

<BODY><div>Portrait of Thomas Bayrle, MAK Permanent Collection Contemporary Art</div><div>© MAK/Mona Heiß</div><div> </div></BODY>

Portrait of Thomas Bayrle, MAK Permanent Collection Contemporary Art

© MAK/Mona Heiß

<BODY><div>Portrait of Leonor Antunes</div><div>© Nick Ash</div><div> </div></BODY>

Portrait of Leonor Antunes

© Nick Ash

<BODY><div>ZEICHENSPRACHE. Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler</div><div>Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000</div><div>© MAK/Aslan Kudrnofsky</div><div> </div></BODY>

ZEICHENSPRACHE. Antunes | Bayrle | Brătescu | Castoro | Pichler

Geta Brătescu, Didona, 2000

© MAK/Aslan Kudrnofsky

<BODY><div><div>Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999</div><div>© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021</div><div>Photo: Aslan Kudrnofsky/MAK</div></div><br /></BODY>

Thomas Bayrle, Objekt Singer, 1999

© Bildrecht, Vienna 2021

Photo: Aslan Kudrnofsky/MAK