VIELGESCHICHTIG. 6 Portraits | 31 Conversations | 6 Languages

Each life has multiple layers. Just how many is something revealed by the art video installation “VIELGESCHICHTIG. 6 Portraits | 31 Conversations | 6 Languages”, on display at the House of Austrian History. Six participants talk to other people about their biographies and backgrounds – with surprising results. These conversations captured on video show how the self someone chooses to project changes depending on to whom they are talking. To watch these conversations is to experience an astonishing density of human encounters, historical events and, at times, silent nuances.

As different as everyone’s experience is, the biographies here have one thing in common: at certain points, the speakers’ histories all connect with the history of Austria, and in particular of Vienna. By immersing viewers in the multi-layered accounts of these six present-day eyewitnesses, the deep imprint of a globalised contemporary history at the intersection of the 20th and 21st centuries is revealed. Listening in, we become part of an entangled narration that raises questions about our own identity.

The exhibition “VIELGESCHICHTIG. 6 Portraits | 31 Conversations | 6 Languages” is one of the outcomes of the art-based research project “synoptic storytelling in a multidirectional Vienna” currently ongoing at the Film and Television Research Laboratory of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, led by Friedemann Derschmidt and financed by the City of Vienna. The project is curated by Alaa Alkurdi, Friedemann Derschmidt, Anne Pritchard-Smith and Karin Schneider, with linguistics support by Nikolaus Wildner.

The exhibition showcases the method of the synoptic portrait developed by Friedemann Derschmidt.

In collaboration with:

A...kademie der bildenden Künste Wien

Porgy & Bess

Director hdgö: Monika Sommer | Curators: Alaa Alkurdi, Friedemann Derschmidt, Anne Pritchard-Smith, Karin Schneider | Linguistic support: Nikolaus Wildner | Exhibition management: Anna Bausch | Public Relations: Ann Cathrin Frank, Ildiko Füredi-Kolarik | Social Media: Louise Beckershaus, Katharina Kraus | Education: Louise Beckershaus, Isabella Burtscher, Markus Fösl, Lisa Horak, Nikolaus Kowarz, Katharina Kraus, Eva Meran, Antonia Plessing, Benjamin Schlöglhofer

synoptic storytelling in a multidirectional vienna

Lead: Friedemann Derschmidt | Reserach team: Alaa Alkurdi, Anne Pritchard-Smith, Karin Schneider, Nikolaus Wildner | Visual concept: Alaa Alkurdi and Friedemann Derschmidt | Studioset, Cameras, Light and Postpro: Alaa Alkurdi | Portrait/Co-researchers: Marwan Abado, Bettina Henkel, Branislav Papo Nikolic, Panni Oplatka, Dr. Annemarie Steidl, Saphira Wing | Listeners/Co-researchers: Ranad Abado, Sherine Anis, Friedemann Derschmidt, Ikumi Derschmidt, Lilli Elsenhuber, Dr. Renée Gadsden, Adrian Gasper, Clarissa Gumbinger, Gilda Nancy Horvath, Abbe Jaroslav Libansky, Luis Löwenstein, Samuel Mago, Itai Margula, Adnan Popovic, Jelena Poprzan, Alex Pritchard-Smith, Anne Pritchard-Smith, Jon Sass, Karin Schneider, Melanie Schönberger, Susanna Wing (Listener to the team) | Project internship: Alex Pritchard-Smith | Project assistance: Laura Moldovan | Visual Assist: Clarissa Gumbinger | Transcripts, translations, subtitles: Susanna Wing, Anne Pritchard-Smith, Clarissa Gumbinger, Saphira Wing, Alex Pritchard-Smith, Nikolaus Wildner, Gilda Nancy Horvath, Samira Fux, Raven Pritchard-Smith, Adnan Popovic, Vedran Pilipovic, Natalija Milojkovic, Aminé Sabeur, Moritz Kosa, Elham Hadian, Anna Vera Derschmidt, Lili Nagy

Acknowledgement:

Dr. Revital Arbel, Richard Ferkl, Thomas Freiler, Michaela Glanz, Thomas Heindl, Richard Hilbert, Christoph Huber, Dr. Manfred Klebel, Harald Krobath, Hermann Kurasch, Bassel Mahmoud, Gilbert Marx, Kurt Mayer, Erich Nikolasch, Franz Oplatka, Florian Prix, Dr. Johannes Rauchenberger, Dr. Christian und Ingrid Reder, Richard Reisenberger, Paul Reiter, Dr. Ernst Strouhal, Dr. Moshe Zuckermann