Dystopia Eutopia

"Dystopia Eutopia" by Austrian Artist Victoria Coeln is an intervention on the occasion of the "Festival of Joy” (celebration of the 71st anniversary of liberation from the Nazi Regime) on May 8, 2016. As night falls, raster patterns and barbed wire overwrite the two most distinctive gates in the centre of Vienna, the Heldentor (Heroes’ Gate, in this photo) and the Michaelertor (Michael’s Gate). Over a period of 40 nights, the synthesis of raster, barbed wire and grand architecture creates an image of eutopia and dystopia. Eutopia describes an ideal society, dystopia its opposite. Contrary to conjecture, Eutopia and Dystopia do not constitute polar opposites in society but only exist as a pair, as two sides of the same coin. 

Disco Atmosphere in the Museum

We are still at the "Kunstschatzi" event at the Kunsthistorisches Museum on Tuesday evening: With the loud music and the mirror ball there was an unusual disco atmosphere in the cupola hall of the museum.

An Evening at the Museum

Yesterday evening I attended the "Kunstschatzi" event at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien. Art lovers could not only take part in guided tours with such appealing titles as "dressed - undressed" or "good looking guys", but also enjoy cocktails and music played by a dj.

Sunset Obession #26

I usually return home from my evening bicycle tours around sunset... and I usually take a picture of the sunset ;-) 

Donau City in Evening Light

Some days ago I did the first after work bicycle tour of the season and enjoyed this view of the modern Donau City.

Sunday Flowers #186

"All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within." - Horace Friess

Hercules Atlantes

In case you need two hercules atlantes for your apartment, house or garden, the auction house located in Kinsky Palace is currently offering these two at the price of € 150.000,- - 300.000,-.

Palais Kinsky

Kinsky Palace in the city center was commissioned by Count Wirich Philipp von Daun, the construction started in 1717 under the direction of Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, a famous baroque architect. In 1784 the palace was sold to the Bohemian Kinsky family, therefore it's also known as "Palais Daun-Kinsky".

Enjoy the (Holiday) Silence

Today is a public holiday (Ascension of Jesus) and I guess I will take another walk along the Old Danube. I'm wondering how long the "obsession" with these walks will last...

Headwear between Utility and Utopia

"Fashion Utopias: Haute Couture in the Graphic Arts" - that's the small exhibition that I visited last Sunday at the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Art (MAK). On the basis of graphic artworks from the late 15th century to the 1930s, the exhibition illustrates the historical development of a passion for designs that fall between the extremes of utility and utopia. I happened to join an interesting guided tour focusing on headwear fashion.

Austrian Museum of Applied Arts

On Sunday I visited a small exhibition at the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Art (MAK). The museum was founded in 1863 as the "Imperial Royal Austrian Museum of Art and Industry" and designed by famous Austrian architect Heinrich von Ferstel. Today it houses a collection of applied arts, design, architecture and contemporary art.

Eyes Open

During yesterday's afternoon walk this colourful mural by American visual artist Lisa Marie Thalhammer caught my eyes. That's exactly what I do when I walk the streets of Vienna: I keep my eyes open, always in search of a good subject for a photo...

May Theme Day: Smell

Currently the Lilac all over Vienna is flowering and the city is filled with its typical sweet fragrance...

Silence

A quiet corner at the Old Danube... I prefer to walk along the Old Danube during the week when it's usually really quiet there.

Taking it Easy...

On Friday I usually stop working in the afternoon, then run errands and rush to the gym. Maybe I should think about letting the working week fade away in a quieter way?

Viennese Chic

The current window display of the Swarovski store in the city center was created by Austrian traditional costume designer Susanne Bisovsky. She transformed it into an avant-garde presentation of a “Salon for Three Viennese” and shows three of her designs.

Evening Sky

I'm back from a 10 day vacation. Although I had intended to publish a daily photo, in the end I didn't make it... But now everything is back to normal. Guess how I spent my first evening back in town? I took a walk along the Old Danube and enjoyed the view of this dramatic looking sky.

Bike Taxi

The bike taxi or bicycle rickshaw was built in the 1880s and was first used with regularity starting in 1929 in Singapore. In recent years you can see more and more of these vehicles in the city center -  an entertaining and eco-friendly form of transportation, according to my observations used mostly by tourists .

Look Who's Watching

I think garage doors are a good place for street art. This face was created by Austrian urban artist Golif.

Sunday Flowers #185

"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness,
the human soul is apt to revive also." - Harriet Ann Jacobs

Façade Detail #40

An impressive atlas at the entrance of an apartment building in the 4th district.

Sunset Obession #25

The sunset over the Danube Island some weeks ago...

Hi

Someone who works in an office building in the second district greets the world outside...

Sunday Flowers #184

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind
than to be hopelessly in love with spring." - George Santayana

French Tearoom

If you love French tea, tartes and macarons, this small and rather kitschy "salon de thé" (tearoom) is the perfect address.

Love is All Around

Sometimes the simple things catch your eyes: During one of my recent walks along the Old Danube I discovered this blue heart painted on the planks of a bathing platform.

Waiting for Customers

Last Sunday I took another walk along the Old Danube... It was a rather cloudy and cold day and the boats were waiting for customers.

Chairs

I just can't stop taking photographs of brightly coloured chairs...

Art in Public Space

In November 2013 the French artist Honet (*1972) created the permanent installation "Totem Modern" on 14 columns along the subway line 2 in the second district. The minimalist figures visually refer to the superheroes of the 1970s and - according to the press release - transform the columns into "cult objects"....

Vienna City Marathon 2016

Yesterday the Vienna City Marathon took place for the 33rd time. Shortly after the start the participants pass every year through my street and I can watch them from the windows of my living room. Yesterday I managed to spot a friend of mine amongst the 42.195 runners and we waved to each other. He took part in the marathon for the 5th time in a row!

Sunday Flowers #183

"Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.  - Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

DC Tower & Tech Gate Vienna

Another photo taken during one of my recent evening walks: the DC Tower next to the office building Tech Gate Vienna.

Sunset Obsession #24

On Monday I took an evening walk and saw this beautiful sunset.

Donau City & DC Tower

Last Saturday evening, on my way home from a shopping mall, I passed by the modern buildings of Donau City and marvelled once again at the DC Tower. With its height of 250m it is a really tall building for Austrian standards... and in fact it is Austria's tallest skyscraper.

Pink Magnolia

The magnolia trees are currenty in full bloom. A beautiful sight!

So Many Walks Here

During my recent sick leave I took a lot of walks along the Old Danube and enjoyed every one of them. During the week the atmosphere was more calm than usual. I guess the ducks were happy to have some peace and quiet.

Well, Hello There!

The people who live behind this door in an allotment site next to the Old Danube seem to be very friendly, they welcome visitors with a "hello" formed with cobblestones. For me today it's "Hello Office!", I'm back to work after a two weeks sick leave. I hope the day won't be too tough...

Sunday Flowers #182

"April is a promise that May is bound to keep." - Hal Borland

Unusual Hot Day

The last day of March was an unusual hot day. It really felt like summer... The platforms along the Old Danube (I can't count the times I took a walk there during my current sick leave) were populated with sunbathers, and some people even went swimming. I relaxed in a sun lounger for half an hour, my neighbour was a young girl who was completely absorbed in her book.

April Theme Day: The Beauty of Simplicity

I like it when simple things catch my eyes. Recently I noticed the beautiful shadows of the railing of a platform on the banks of my beloved Old Danube.
Click here to view thumbnails of all participants in the theme day.

Springtime in Setagaya Park #2

Another view of the blooming trees in Setagaya Park.

Springtime in Setagaya Park #1

In springtime the Setagaya Park, a japanese garden in the 19th district, is a real feast for the eyes with its blooming Japanese cherries and Magnolias.

Taking Wedding Photos

While most people were busy celebrating Easter last Sunday, this newly wed couple had a photoshoot on the stairs of Schönbrunn Palace.

Huge Easter Egg

Yesterday afternoon I was at the Easter Market in front of Schönbrunn Palace where some sixty exhibitors from Austria and neighbouring countries are offering traditional and crafted gift ideas. I was not the only one who had the idea to go there on this sunny and warm Easter Sunday... At the entrance of the market there are several huge Easter Eggs, they are very popular backdrops for photos... Today is the last day of this market.

Happy Easter!

These Easter bunnies have gathered to wish you a very happy Easter!

Golden Easter Bunny

The huge golden Easter Bunny at the "Golden Quarter" shopping district was spray-painted by Austrian urban artist Golif.

Easter Eggs

Some of the beautifully hand-painted Easter eggs that are available at the Old Vienna Easter Market.

Old Vienna Easter Market

It's the time of the Easter Markets! The Old Vienna Easter Market in the city center is famous for its huge amount of painted Easter eggs piled up in the center of the market. You can get there also other Easter decorations and savour snacks from the Austrian provinces.

No Sunbathers yet

I hope you aren't already tired of all the photos from my walks along the Old Danube! It's only 10 minutes by underground away from my apartment and for me the perfect place to calm down - if there aren't too many other people around. During the summer months this platform and the sunloungers will be crowded...

Another Walk by the Water

I'm currently on sick leave and have to walk a lot, so I went for another stroll along the Old Danube yesterday around noon. It was much quieter than on Sunday and I loved this atmosphere.