Exhibition:
THE MATERIAL SHOW
We build Houses. We take them apart

26.02.26 – 31.05.2026
MQ Freiraum

Artists participating in the project are: Lara Almarcegui, Hannes Böck, Cäcilia Brown, Werner Feiersinger, Andreas Fogarasi, Daria Koltsova, Little Warsaw, Markéta Othová, Bianca Pedrina, Nick Relph, Iris Touliatou and Christoph Weber.

The continuous cycle of construction and destruction, of usefulness and decay, has always been an integral part of building culture. Here, twelve Austrian and international artists approach materials such as concrete, stone, wood, metal and glass – materials that shape and structure our built environment – on both a conceptual and formal level. Building on the long-standing, in-depth research conducted over many years by artist and co-curator Andreas Fogarasi, a selection of artists was made who share a common interest. Through their artistic and research practices, they draw attention to those essential components of our environment that we often take for granted without giving them much thought, and that only draw our attention when they malfunction, become defective or even ruined. At the same time, architecture is changing at a rapid pace, especially in the urban context. This is also the case in the immediate vicinity of the MQ Freiraum: a gigantic construction shell on Mariahilfer Strasse, completed only recently, has fallen victim to one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in Austrian history and is now to be demolished.

It is no coincidence that this exhibition is taking place on the 25th anniversary of the MuseumsQuartier: one of the largest cultural complexes in the world, with an architectural structure that embodies more than 300 years of ever-changing history. With the planned new building for the House of Austrian History and the greening of the inner courtyards, the MQ continues to expand and transform. The exhibition rooms showcase not only the material foundations of architecture, but also its social and ecological aspects. In a time of increased crises and upheavals, this exhibition draws attention to that which is necessary – both in architectural and social terms – and should not be taken for granted. Yet it also invites us to discover beauty in the fundamental.

Curated by Andreas Fogarasi and MQ chief curator Astrid Peterl

Image © Werner Feiersinger, Untitled (Aldo Rossi), 2021, Courtesy der Künstler & Galerie Martin Janda, Wien