The Color of Energy

viennacontemporary and Salzburger Kunstverein are pleased to present the exhibition The Color of Energy as part of the special program VCT STATEMENT: ENERGY.

The Color of Energy is an exhibition presented in two distinct yet interconnected chapters, co-produced by viennacontemporary and Salzburger Kunstverein with kind support from the ERSTE Foundation. The first chapter takes place at viennacontemporary (Messe Wien, Halle D, September 12–15, 2024), featured as part of VTC STATEMENT: ENERGY, the fair’s special program that connects sociopolitical phenomena with the art world and fosters conversations through collaborations with external curators and thinkers. The narrative continues with the second chapter at Salzburger Kunstverein (September 20–November 24, 2024).

Anchored in a chromatic framework, the exhibition explores the aesthetic and affective dimensions of how energy is harnessed, consumed, and imagined. This showcase comes at a crucial juncture in human history, as the global energy crisis intensifies the call for a transition to sustainable energy sources. This particular crisis was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, which have led to a spike in oil and gas prices and rampant inflation.

The colors in the exhibition narrate stories of conflict, innovation, and adaptation, inviting a reflection not only on how energy shapes our world but also on how it colors our perceptions thereof: the amber of smog-filled skies, the toxic yellow of acid rains, the rusty orange of oil spills in the ocean, the searing red of wildfires,  the blue hue of solar panels, the white of melting glaciers, the gleaming silver of technological advancements, the neon green of radioactive uranium, the blue glow of nuclear reactors, the stark gray of concrete fallout shelters, the lurid green of money, the pale white of an exhausted face.

Through this exploration, the exhibition reveals the subtle energy flows essential for comprehending the complex interplay of forces that shape our society today. It seeks to deepen our awareness of how intricately energy is embedded in the cultural and political fabric of Europe and beyond.

In addition to the exhibition, VCT STATEMENT hosts two panel discussions during viennacontemporary art fair under the umbrella title Nexus Thinking—Energy, Future, Sustainability. On Friday, September 13, at 2:30pm and 3:30pm, international climate experts and stakeholders from arts and culture will discuss questions of climate change and sustainability through the lens of artists and creative thinkers at Messe Wien, Halle D. 

Exhibition Curator: Mirela Baciak 
Curatorial Project Assistant: Erka Shalari

viennacontemporary (Messe Wien, Halle D): September 12–15, 2024
Chapter I artists: Sara Bezovšek, Liv Bugge, Judith Fegerl, Veronika Hapchenko, Katrin Hornek, Sophie Jung, Linda Lach, Ursula Mayer, Shubigi Rao, Guan Xiao 

Salzburger Kunstverein: September 21–November 24, 2024
Chapter II artists: Bertille Bak, Sophie Jung, Edson Luli, Ursula Mayer, Oleksiy Radynski, Shubigi Rao, Emilija Škarnulytė, Guan Xiao
 

VCT STATEMENT: The Color of Energy is co-produced by viennacontemporary and Salzburger Kunstverein with the kind support from the ERSTE Foundation.