Retrospective of a pioneer

With her action Tapp- und Tastkino (1968), in which VALIE EXPORT wore a box with openings over her naked breasts through which pedestrians could touch her, the artist became known abruptly. She crossed existing boundaries and staged topics such as female oppression in patriarchal structures that rarely or never entered public debate. In the case of Tastkino, she addressed the voyeuristic view of women's bodies that, in her opinion, is considered normal in the movie theater. After her action, she received numerous threatening letters and calls. Since then, VALIE EXPORT has dedicated herself to justice and tolerance in European societies by speaking out what many did not want to see or understand. The Albertina in Vienna is dedicating a major solo show to the Austrian artist with VALIE EXPORT − Retrospective. From June 23 to October 1, the focus is primarily on photographs − both as documentary accessories and as independent works. The medium has so far received less attention in exhibitions than the artist's performances, body art and videos.

VALIE EXPORT (*1940), whose real name is Waltraud Stockinger, is also the creator of feature and documentary films, object art, sculptures, laser installations, and investigations into contemporary art history. The Austrian artist was nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlinale for her feature film The Practice of Love (1985), exhibited at documenta 6 (1977) and documenta 12 (2007), and won numerous art awards.