Exhibition: Beyond Decoration - Art in Public Space between Aesthetics, Politics, and Economics

Art in public spaces is more than decoration: it shapes urban and alpine landscapes, embeds itself in collective memory, provokes dissent, and opens up spaces for reflection. Public space is not a neutral backdrop, but a socially shaped place that gains new meanings through artistic interventions. With this event series, we aim to sharpen the perception of art, provide background information, and foster conversations between artists, the city, and the audience.

The starting point is Bregenz, a city with an extraordinary density of artworks in public spaces – including works by Herbert Albrecht, Gottfried Bechtold, Gunter Demnig, Cerith Wyn Evans, Tone Fink, Heinz Gappmayr, Reinhard Gassner, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Ruth Schnell, Roman Signer, Natasa Sienčnik, and many more. Beyond Bregenz, projects in Vorarlberg such as Antony Gormley's "Horizon Field," James Turrell's "Skyspace," Bechtold's works at the Silvretta dam, Miriam Prantl's Earth Light, and many other significant initiatives connect landscape, light, and perception, stimulating economic, ecological, and aesthetic discussions. Additionally, they highlight the potential of art in public spaces and generate sustainable tourist value as well as international attention.