Spirit of Austria presents three positions in contemporary art from Austria: the group
Gelatin-members: Wolfgang Gantner (b. Mistelbach 1968) Ali Janka (b. Salzburg 1970) Florian
Reither (b. St. Pölten 1970) and Tobias Urban (b. Munich 1971) - and the artists Franz Graf
(b. Tulln 1954) and Markus Schinwald (b. Salzburg 1973). At first glance Graf's large-format
graphite and ink drawings would seem to have little in common with Gelatin's gaudy
modeling-clay pictures and colorful table collages or Schinwald's overpainted portraits. But a
closer look discovers affinities: excessive physicality or unusual psychological constitutions
laced with humor and undeniable critical overtones. Despite the considerable differences
between the individual artists' works they share a narrative approach invested in the social
relevance of art - and occasionally in deliberate provocation - that has deep roots in the
Austrian artistic tradition.
