Neue Nationalgalerie

Extreme Tension. Art between Politics and Society
Collection of the Nationalgalerie 1945 – 2000

The art of the second half of the 20th century is defined by a wide range of materials, media, and methods. At the same time, no other era was so marked by division and disunity — but also by renewal. “Extreme Tension. Art between Politics and Society” is the title of this collection display at the Neue Nationalgalerie, focusing on art from 1945 to the turn of the millennium.

The Holocaust and war, new beginnings and emancipation, the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall all created tensions within society and brought about fundamental shifts in visual art. The exhibition’s title refers to a radical performance by Viennese Actionist Günter Brus in 1970, in which he pushed his body to the limit, exposing himself to the pull of steel cables. Fourteen chapters explore key artistic and social themes of the 20th century — including realism and abstraction, politics and society, everyday life and pop, feminism, identity, nature, and ecology.

The exhibition features paintings, objects, photographs, and video works from both West and East Germany, Western Europe, and the United States, as well as artistic developments from former socialist countries. On display are works of Art Informel, American Color Field painting, 1970s realism, Pop and Minimal Art, as well as Conceptual Art by artists such as Marina Abramović, Joseph Beuys, Francis Bacon, Lee Bontecou, Rebecca Horn, Valie Export, Wolfgang Mattheuer, Louise Nevelson, Bridget Riley, Pipilotti Rist, and Andy Warhol. The presentation also spotlights works by artists such as Kiki Kogelnik and Ewa Partum, who are not yet represented in the Nationalgalerie collection.

Further information can be found on the website of the Neue Nationalgalerie. Please note that an additional ticket may be required for admission to the special exhibition.