AUSTRIA: Vienna – A Magnificent City

The trip to Vienna began in a mad dash that had me catching my bus by one minute. This happened because of deceptive markings at the bus stop across the street. How ironic it would have been to miss a bus for which I was thirty minutes early. Once aboard, I caught my breath, watched a movie, and took a nap.

Upon arrival in Vienna, the trip on the metro proved short and easy. My hunger had gotten the better of me, and I headed to one of the few open restaurants near my hostel. A glimpse at a few buildings reminded me of the beauty of the city.

CAFE SAVOY – FIRST STOP

CAFE SAVOY – This 1897 cafe, young by Vienna standards, was an excellent way to initiate relations with this city. My wiener schnitzel was a work of art and the apple strudel with cream sauce was delightful.

WOMBATS – THE CITY HOSTEL – THE NASCHMARKT

AN ACTUAL WOMBAT – CLEANER AND BETTER BEHAVED THAN SOME OF THE ANIMALS WHO STAY HERE

Wombats is a large hostel, and like cities, I like my hostels small to medium. Large hostels present a lot of challenges. Aside from the crowds and the noise, this particular hostel renders it impossible to find a quiet space. Because of its bloated size, people tend to take cover in its enormity. As a result, the residents tend to steal food and make noise with impunity.

NASCHMARKT – Clothing, gifts, souvenirs, foods, fruits and vegetables, and countless restaurants comprise this kilometer long 100-foot wide pedestrian zone flanked by two boulevards.

These impressive, beautifully restored structures look out onto the Naschmarkt.

However, these are just a drop in the bucket compared to the grandeur that comprises Vienna at large.

NASCHMARKT – Fresh produce keeps the hostel-dwelling backpacker healthy.

LOCAL STREET ART

 

 

ON THE WAY TO THE MUSEUMSQUARTIER

MuseumsQuartier

LEOPOLD MUSEUM

GUSTAV KLIMT

 

Gustav KLIMT – Klara Klimt – 1880

These early works by Klimt reveal his developmental process toward his later works. Although entirely different, his talent is clearly evident in these three pleasing portraits.

Gustav KLIMT – Pauline Flöge in Rococo Costume – 1892-1894

Gustav KLIMT – Seated Young Girl – 1894

Gustav KLIMT – Lady with Cape and Hat on a Red Background – 1897/98

Gustav KLIMT – Shubert at the Piano – 1896

 

Gustav KLIMT – Litzlbergkeller – 1915/16

 

Gustav KLIMT – Schönbrunn Landscape – 1916

 

Gustav KLIMT – Death and Life – 1910/11

DETAIL – I’LL TAKE LIFE WHILE I HAVE IT

 

KLIMT’S STUDIO – A faithful recreation using his personal furniture, fixture, and objects.

KLIMT’S KNICK-KNACKS

Erich MALLINA – Salome with the Head of John – 1905

PORTION OF A PORTRAIT OF ISABELLA REISSER – Anton Romako didn’t do this broad any favors. The poor thing looks crazier than a shithouse rat in this painting.

Josef Maria AUCHENTALLER – Elf at the Brook – 1898/99

Auguste RODIN – The Eternal Idol – Designed 1893 – Cast 1971

Koloman MOSER – Chair for the Purkersdof Sanatorium – 1903

Joseph Maria OLDBRICH – Chair – 1898/99

Josef HOFFMANN – Coffee Service – 1922

Otto PRUTSCHER – Wine Glasses – 1908

Joseph HOFFMANN – Vase in Wooden Framework – 1899

Josef HOFFMANN – Parts from a Drinking Suite – 1911

 

 

                                   KOLOMAN MOSER

Koloman MOSER – Furniture from the Living Room of Eisler von Terramare – 1903

 

Koloman MOSER – Wardrobe from the Apartment of Eisler von Terramare – 1903

Koloman MOSER – High-Backed Easy Chair – 1904

BEDROOM SUITE

Otto WAGNER – Segment from the Railing of the Vienna City Railway – 1898

This is clearly derivative of a design often used in Ancient Rome nonetheless it is quite compelling. Similar railings can be found throughout Vienna.

Richard GERSTL – Small Landscape at Traunsee – 1907

 

 

                                             EGON SCHIELE

 

Egon SCHIELE – Self Portrait with Lowered Head – 1912

 

Egon SCHIELE – Still Life with Books – 1916

 

Egon SCHIELE – House with Shingle Roof – 1915

Egon SCHIELE – Krumau at Night – 1911

Egon SCHIELE – Reclining Woman – 1917

 

Albert BIRKLE – Man with Fur Cap (My Brother the Animal) – 1923

John HOLLISTER – Man with Kangol Hat (Travel Zealot) – 2019

Franz HAGENAUER – Woman’s Head with Curls – 1934

Franz HAGENAUER – Hanukkah Lamp – Design 1935-38 – Execution c. 1970

Franz HAGENAUER – Female Head with Necklace – 1930

Rudolf WACKER – Achbrücke Bregenz – 1926

 

 

LOUIS VUITTON PHOTO SHOOT – I got this shot on the way out of the museum much to the displeasure of the crew. A typically emaciated, heroin chic, Vuitton model stares into oblivion in a somewhat nauseating outfit and overexposed LV print bag. How long will people continue to pay exorbitant prices for the privilege of advertising other peoples goods?

MuseumsQuartier

EINKAUFSPASSAGE – HIDDEN ALLEY – SPECIALTY STORES

www.startledermoden.at – High-Quality Calf Leather – Non-Designer Jackets at a third of the normal price. The one on the right is just 99 euros ($110).

 

 

                            CAFE CENTRAL

CAFÉ CENTRAL – Café Central is a traditional Viennese cafe that became a key meeting place of the Viennese intellectual scene. In January 1913 alone it played host to Sigmund Freud, Josef Stalin, Leon Trotsky, and Adolf Hitler. Today it is a popular tourist spot and café marked by its place in literary history.

 

PERUSING THE PASTRIES

 

I CHOSE DEATH BY GOULASH

GOULASH SOUP

GOULASH WITH DUMPLINGS

ERDBEERSCHNITTE – Sponge cake with vanilla cream, strawberries, and marzipan.

IMPERIAL PALACE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Josef MÜLLNER – Young Athlete – 1921

 

 

 

 

 

KLIMT PARAPHERNALIA – They have jam, chocolate, mints, tea, diaries, candles, coasters, ties, scarves, hats, gloves, tote bags, umbrellas, oven mitts, mugs, and ashtrays. I’ve even see kleenex with the Kiss printed on them so you can blow your nose on a masterpiece if you choose.

 

 

 

SAINT STEPHAN’S CHURCH

 

 

 

3RD MAN MUSEUM

THE PROPRIETOR AND HIS WIFE

 

HERBERT HALBIK – Little Hansel – The hat used in the film.

THE THIRD MAN – BEST BRITISH FILM OF ALL TIMES – British Film Institute – 1999

 

1ST. PRIZE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 1949

 

This is a rare camera that was used in shooting The 3rd Man. It’s size made it possible to get footage that would have been unobtainable with a normal sized 35mm camera. The camera was previously used by Leni Riefenstahl in shooting the 1936 Berlin Olympics for Adolf Hitler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CARE PACKAGES FOR A SUFFERING VIENNA

 

 

 

A COLLAGE OF VIENNA USING ACTUAL RUBBLE FROM THE WAR

THIS IS A RECREATED SCENE FROM THE FILM STAGED BELOW THE MUSEUM

 

 

                                   BACK AT THE WOMBAT

DJ JAZZY DOUCHE – This pasty faced rapper wannabe attempted to impress the brother with his sorry grasp of the medium. It takes more than motherf##ker this and motherf##ker that to lay down a good track. The main issue is that it was three in the morning and I was trying to get some work done, and this yutz compromised my opportunity for some peace and quiet to do so.

 

 

BUNDESGARTEN  SCHLOSSPARK SHÖNBRUNN

 

Surrounded by the ample grounds of the Shönbrunn Park the Gloriette can be seen perched on the hilltop.

NEPTUNE’S FOUNTAIN

 

 

 

THE GLORIETTE – On a hilltop overlooking the Schönbrunn Palace grounds and with beautiful views of Vienna from its roof, the Classical Gloriette was built in 1775.

 

SCHÖBRUNN PALACE – The Baroque Schönbrunn Palace with its 1,441 rooms and apartments was built between 1696 and 1730, and soon after converted into a residence for Maria Theresa, the only female Habsburg ruler. Further alterations took place between 1816 and 1819, and following severe damage in WWII, reconstruction was completed in 1952.

DESIGNATED A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN 1996

 

 

 

 

 

THE BLUE DANUBE – A WALK BY THE RIVER – Neither the boat nor the river is blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN MARKET – About once a month this event is held just outside the MuseumQuartier.

The variety is only exceeded by the quality of the products.

RECYCLOCK – Made out of recycled bicycle part, these wall clocks mimic the inner workings of actual watch movements. If I had a home, I would have bought one of these innovative accessories.

A beautiful setting on an exceptional day.

ILLE/OLLA – This avant-garde outerwear is the brainchild of this woman. In fact, I saw one of her creations in a shop window in Prague.

LIGHT FIXTURES

RESIN JEWELRY – I picked up a 15 euro black resin ring for myself.

 

 

MUMOK MUSEUM – My 1st Destination

VERTIGO – MUMOK”S LATEST EXHIBITION OF MODERN ART

 

John HOLLISTER – SELF-PORTRAIT w/ POP ART – 2019

As you scroll through these pieces, notice how some of these artworks vibrate while in motion.

Bridget RILEY – Blaze 2 – 1963

Erika Giovanna KLIEN – Diving Bird – 1939

Bridget RILEY – Hesitate – 1964

François MORELLET – Four Double Grids – 1961

Victor VASARELY – Biadan – 1959

Victor Vasarely – Tabor-Cin – 1956

Edward WADSWORTH – Camoflaged Ship in Dry Dock – 1918

DADAMAINO – Optic-Dynamic-Object – 1961

Franco GRIGNANI – Structural Dance – 1965

Gotthart Joe MÜLLER – Structure – 1962

Victor VASARELY – ZEBRAS – 1932-1942

Richard ANUSZKIEWICZ – Convex and Concave – 1966

Edoardo LANDI – Visual Structure 61 – 1964-1965

Karl REINHARTZ – Prism Picture Black/White – 1963

Richard ANUSZKIEWICZ – Union of the Four – 1961

Carlos CRUZ-DIEZ – Phisichromie Nr. 417 – 1968

UMKREIS/Circle of Guido Reni – Prism Painting w/ Portraits of Jesus and Mary – 1st Half 17th Century

JESUS PERSPECTIVE

MARY PERSPECTIVE

François MORELLET – A Wire Mesh Superimposed – 1970

 

 

 

Marina APOLLONIO – Circular Dynamics 4S – 1968/2019

UNKNOWN ARTIST – Couple in the Act of Love – 1750

Gerhard VON GREEVENÜTZ – 37 Silver Disks on Black – 1967

Jesús RAFAEL SOTO – Metal Vibration – 1969-1970

Alberto BIASI – Big Leap into the Rainbow – 1969

 

Vjenceslav RICHTER – RELIEF-Meter – 1967

 

 

THE BIOPHYSICIST

 

TAXONOMIST

 

THE SOIL SCIENTIST

 

THE GEOPHYSICIST

 

THE GENETICIST

Kim MACCONNEL – Vodoo Couch, Table Lamp, and Painting – Edible -1946

 

John HOLLISTER – Pop Art Metro – 2019

After I left the museum, I ran into this little surprise. Pop Art meets Roman Ruins!

 

 

MAK MUSEUM

 

 

 

 

Gustav GURSCHNER – Lamp – 1905

Gustav KLIMT

Gustav KLIMT

Gustav KLIMT

Gustav KLIMT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHINESE WHISPERS

 

Zhang XIAOGANG – Bloodline Series – 1997

CHI LEI – Red Star Motel – 2009

 

Ai WEIWEI – Descending Light with A Missing Circle – 2017

 

Cao YU – Fountain – 2015 (Single Channel HD Video)

 

He XIANGYU – 79 Lemons – 2017

PEOPLE MILLING ABOUT ARE OBLIVIOUS TO THE CORPSE IN THEIR MIDST

He XIANGYU – The Death of Marat – 2011

EXIT VIENNA THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP