When I decided to visit Vienna I started to look for works by Markus Schinwald, too. He is representing Austria on the Venice Biennale this year and I quite liked the pavilion and his works (not the paintings, though). In Venice there is a video work by him, a 2 channelled projection (Orient) that I really liked. In his vision in the pavilion the viewer turns into a performer and the pavilion itself into a closed stage. His obsession with legs was quite obvious as he created walls in the pavilion those allowed to see one’s legs only. Also looking up you could see furniture legs on the walls.

Searching for Schinwald I found the Salvador Dali exhibition online that just opened in the Kunsthalle (Le Surrealisme, c'est moi!). His surreal works are confronted with 4 contemporary artist’s works (Louise Bourgeois, Glenn Brown, Markus Schinwald and Francesco Vezzoli – reassessing his works in the mirror of present day art. Each room is set up with relevant works from Dali and one of the contemporary artists. Worth visiting even if you think you had enough art for the day as it is a small and entertaining exhibition.  

Markus Schinwald: Orient, Pavilion of Austria, Venice Biennale,
photo by Török Viktória 

Markus Schinwald: Orient, Pavilion of Austria, Venice Biennale,
photo by Török Viktória

On the right the exhibition poster of Le Surrealisme, c'est moi, Salvador Dali,
Vienna, Kunsthalle, photo by Török Viktória

Markus Schinwald's aquarium at the Dali exhibition,
Vienna, Kusthalle, photo by Török Viktória

View at the Dali exhibition, on the right a black and white painting by Glenn Brown,
on the left the work of Salvador Dali, Vienna, Kunsthalle, photo by Török Viktória