In this project, selected objects from the MAK collection are to be arranged by Kurt Ryslavy. He will do so as collector, as a wine dealer and as an artist, thus giving rise to a complex sort of intentionality and, what’s more, making space for a wine bar which once served as an installation in an exhibition by Harald Szeemann. Since art itself has become nothing more than a market, it will also suffer the market’s fate. By exorcizing and/or banalizing mystifi cation, Ryslavy prevents the capitalist control of societal creativity—a control which purpose is, of course, to mystify. The value of Ryslavy’s art lies not in its aesthetic standards of quality, but rather in its complex refl ection on the division of labor, subjectivity and immaterial work. (Peter Weibel) It is conceivable that the artist, who refers to himself as a “Sunday painter,” will mount a performance with the participation of winemakers.

Curators Sebastian Hackenschmidt, MAK curator of furniture and woodwork / Marlies Wirth, MAK NITE©

In the Study Collection, the MAK exhibits selected objects of its extensive collection on a permanent basis. The arrangement by materials corresponds to the specializations of the collection’s curators, while the selection of objects is based on major lines of development. Moreover, temporary exhibitions offer an opportunity to cast a spotlight on various aspects of the collection and to consider objects in the collection between the poles of applied and contemporary art.