Absolutely Vienna -
Acquisitions and Donations since 2000

A Josef Hoffmann cupboard from Wittgenstein’s apartment, yet also mass-produced furniture from 1950s council housing. Masterpieces of Biedermeier painting by Danhauser, Alt and Fendi, yet also Hans Schabus’ video of his sailing boat trip through the River Wien in 2001. A "Care" package as proof of the poverty post-1945, as well as Bruno Kreisky’s legendary Rover.

"Absolutely Vienna" means significant elements from the city’s history as well as important artworks, cultural-historical rarities and objects from urban life.

No other museum in Vienna collects with so broad a spectrum as the Wien Museum – art, photos, architecture, fashion, daily-life objects. Thousands of pictures and objects have been acquired in the first decade of the 21st century, complemented by unusual donations. "Absolutely Vienna" presents a selection, a collage of 500 aspects of Vienna, turning the spotlight on the unique potential of the Wien Museum.

Past, Present and Future

A good museum is not lifeless. On the contrary: it develops continuously, moving with the times. That’s why new acquisitions and donations are vital – both meaningful additions to the historical collections, and contemporary evidence of a changing city, too. Many historical museums have difficulty making a link to the present. At the heart of the collection lies the 20th century, with the main goal to extend contemporary assets. Current emphasis lies on youth culture and migration.

Collecting with a Strategy

A city museum cannot collect everything, so what matters is to make strict selections. What is relevant? Do the new acquisitions reflect the variety and diversity of Vienna? The basis is a nuanced collection strategy that is recognised internationally, too. "City museums bear an enormous responsibility," says Wien Museum director Wolfgang Kos, "because we collect for the future." The exhibition thus offers fascinating insights into museum work.

Highlights and Rarities

"Absolutely Vienna" heralds a cycle of exhibitions which invite you to rediscover the Wien Museum collections. In May 2012 the museum’s Klimt collection, comprising more than 400 works, will be on show; from autumn 2012 onwards, highlights and rarities rarely or never shown due to lack of space will follow, titled "Treasure Trove Storage Depot".

630 Donations

"Absolutely Vienna" is also a way to say a huge "thank you" to all those 630 Viennese people who have so kindly donated artworks and historical objects to their museum since 2000. Many of these donors have also told their personal stories. Particularly successful was a call for donations on the theme of life in the 1950s.

Many artists and well-known personalities support the museum: Alfred Komarek dedicated a matchstick dispenser, Wolfgang Ambros a mouth organ, architect Laurids Ortner his documentation covering the dispute over the Museumsquartier and a reading tower.