Touch Nature

The multimedia exhibition is a presentation of international artists who are taking a stand against the devastating political, economic, ecological and humanitarian impact of the Anthropocene. It becomes clear in the process that artists are not only documenting their grievances and formulating resistance but are also designing utopias for a respectful approach to our environment.

The economic exploitation of landscapes, increasing soil sealing and the global repercussions of current consumer behaviour are also addressed, as are world nutrition, the spread of epidemics and the consequences of colonialism. In addition, the investigation encourages a change of perspective. It opens up hopeful visions for a new relationship between mankind and nature.

Touch Nature is based on the series of exhibitions of the same name, which were presented in a total of 12 Austrian cultural forums in Europe and the USA, and in which Austrian artists engaged in a creative dialogue with their counterparts from the host country concerned. The exhibition at the Lentos is a distillation of this series and presents an overview of how the climate crisis and environmental destruction are currently being addressed in art.

It is in the spirit of the pioneer of ecological thinking, Alexander von Humboldt, who famously wrote to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1810: ​“Nature must be felt.”

Curator and exhibition concept: Sabine Fellner

Project assistance: Laurenz Fellner

Exhibition design: wienerhalle

Artists

Works by Uli Aigner, Iris Andra­schek, Peter Bartoš, Matei Beje­na­ru, Juli­us von Bis­marck, Van­ja Bučan, Flor­iama Can­dea, Lau­ra Codruța Cer­nea, Adria­na Chiru­ta, Sev­da Chkou­to­va, Lari­sa Crun­țea­nu, Mark Dion, Vero­ni­ka Dirn­ho­fer, Ines Dou­jak, Anna Dumitriu/​Alex May, Lati­fah Ech­akhch, Chris­ti­an Eisen­ber­ger, Tita­nil­la Eisen­hart, Micha­el End­li­cher, İnci Evi­ner, Tho­mas Feu­er­stein, Andrea Fran­co­li­no, Doro­thee Frank/​Ben Fodor, Bir­git Gra­schopf, Nico­la Hackl-Has­lin­ger, Maxi­mi­li­an Hai­da­cher, Jit­ka Hanzlo­vá, Peter Hau­en­schild, Beá­ta Hech­tová, Edgar Honet­schlä­ger, Anaïs Horn, Alfred Hrusch­ka, Bar­ba­ra Anna Husar/​Elmar Bertsch, Göz­de İlk­in, Nona Ines­cu, Fatoş İrw­en, Tobi­as Izsó, Maren Jeleff/​Klaus Pich­ler, Sabi­ne Jeli­nek, Anna Jer­mo­lae­wa, Anne Duk Hee Jor­dan, Johan­na Kan­dl, Eginhartz Kan­ter, Anton Keh­rer, Kit­ty Kino, Auro­ra Kirá­ly, Alex­an­dra Kon­tri­ner, Nina Koželj, David Kran­zel­bin­der, Ele­na Kris­to­for, Hans Kupel­wie­ser, Anto­nio Kut­leša, Chris­tia­ne Löhr, Lin­da Luse, Haru­ko Mae­da, Péter Mátyá­si, Clau­dia März­en­dor­fer, Katha­ri­na Meis­ter, Fer­di­nand Melichar, Kari­na Mend­recz­ky, Syl­vie de Meur­vil­le, Ana Maria Micu, Clai­re Mor­gan, Alo­is Mos­ba­cher, Yvonne Oswald, Moni­ka Pich­ler, Mar­got Pilz, PRINZ­pod, Luisa Rabbia, Julia Reich­mayr, Oli­ver Ress­ler, Hubert Roi­th­ner, Gre­gor Sai­ler, Eli­sa­beth von Sam­sonow, Davor San­vin­cen­ti, Judith Saupper, Hans Scha­bus, Schei­be & Günt­zel, Ramo­na Schne­ken­bur­ger, Gabrie­le Schö­ne, Mar­tin Schrampf, Clau­dia Schu­mann, Marie­lis Sey­ler, Mili­ca Simo­no­vić, Rebec­ca Smith, Paul Spen­dier, Oana Stanciu, Tho­mas Stimm, Mir­cea Suciu, Maria Sza­kats, Adri­enn Újhá­zi, Hana Usui, Dan Vezen­tan, Judith Wag­ner, Man­fred Wakol­bin­ger, Vio­let­ta Wakol­bin­ger, Bet­sy Weis, Nives Widau­er, Eva Yur­ko­vá, Lau­rent Ziegler/​Georg Blaschke