This exhibition will give the first historically and scientifically founded overview of the history of Central European Modernism and contemporary art between 1949 and 1999. It will feature works by artists from the following countries: - Poland - CSSR (subsequently Slovakia and the Czech Republic) - Austria - Hungary - SFR of Yugoslavia (subsequently FR of Yugoslavia) - Croatia - Slovenia - Bosnia & Hercegovina - Macedonia.

Currently, Europe is experiencing profound social, political, and economic changes. What is at stake now is the creation of the basis for a new and unified Europe. An important element in this process is the so-called "Eastern enlargement" of the European Union by the former Eastern Bloc countries. It must be emphasized that the European countries constitute a cultural and intellectual community shaped by two thousand years of shared history as well as an eventful and positive coexistence of various cultures. This means that we need to understand the differences between European cultures and accept and preserve the particularities of various minorities. This allows us to establish a system of values in which the identities of the so-called periphery can continue to be of significance.

Although Central Europe, or Mitteleuropa, has long played a vital cultural role, particularly at the turn of the century, when cities like Vienna, Prague, and Budapest were among the most important centers for literature, philosophy, and sciences, this region, due to the political situation prevailing during the Cold War and the division of Europe into East and West, lost its significance and was regarded as periphery. With this exhibition and events the organizers would like to take a fresh look at the very compelling subject of Central European art, focusing on the time of Europe's political division and the past ten years following the upheavals in the former Eastern Bloc. It is our intention to showcase Central European culture in its historical complexity, embedded in an encompassing geopolitical cultural sphere. Austria and the former Yugoslavia and its successor states are included as well since the cultural development of these countries illustrates the specific Central European characteristics in the fields of literature, theater, visual arts, architecture, etc.

Our project is subdivided into the following chronological and content-based portions (this subdivision only applies to Poland, CSSR, i.e. the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Hungary).

1949-1956: Totalitarianism, isolation and relations to the West Positions of modern art during the Stalinist totalitarian regime and Austria's occupation; the conflict between official and unofficial art and the problem of isolation.

1956-1968: Between two revolutions The parallels between official and unofficial art in the Communist countries, the influence exerted by Western tendencies in Austria and Yugoslavia.

1968-1980: Convergence and divergence The coexistence of various ideological and aesthetic strategies in the art scene of the Socialist countries. Different artistic developments in major Central European cities after 1968. Different models of artistic interaction between East and West. Perspectives for new positions in the international art context and awareness for a Central European avant-garde.

1980-1989: Preparations for upheavals Glasnost, perestroika, and the various reform movements targeted against dictatorial structures in the Communist countries; sweeping changes in the former Yugoslavia.

1989-1999: Euphoria, disillusionment, normalization Contemporary art in the new post-Communist democracies in Central Europe. Austria's accession to the European Union, the cultural response to the destruction of Yugoslavia.

SFR of Yugoslavia Following the Yugoslav-Soviet conflict Yugoslavia embarked on its own path in 1948, both with regard to domestic and foreign policy. The most decisive period occurred in the late eighties as the SFR of Yugoslavia began to crumble. Art from the period of 1989-1999 will be presented as art coming from the FR of Yugoslavia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Hercegovina, and Macedonia.

Austria Austria's cultural development can be subdivided into the following periods:

1949-1955: The post-war era during which Austria was occupied by the Allies, leading up to the State Treaty.

1955-1968 and the following years: To a certain extent, the implications of the historic year 1968 were also felt in Austria. Significant changes of Austria's culture and art scene occurred during the Kreisky government.

1980 and the following years: As the art scene came to be dominated by "New Painting" ("Fierce Painting"), a new generation of young artists came to the fore. A younger generation still emerged during the nineties and has had a profound impact on the contemporary art scene.

Curator: Lóránd Hegyi, Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Vienna

Co-curators: Anda Rottenberg (Poland) Jana and Jiri Sevcik (Czech Republic) Katarina Rusnakova (Slovak Republic) Dieter Schrage, assisted by Achim Hochdorfer, Hanno Millesi (Austria) Katalin Neray (Hungary) Dunja Blazevic (SFR of Yugoslavia and its successor states) together with Bojana Pejic (FR of Yugoslavia/Serbia) together with Petar Cukovic (FR of Yugoslavia/Montenegro) together with Branka Stipancic (Croatia) together with Igor Zabel (Slovenia) together with Meliha Husedzinovic (Bosnia & Hercegovina) together with Nebojsa Vilic (Macedonia)

Exhibition locations:

17 December 1999 - 27 February 2000 Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Vienna

24 March - 28 May 2000 Ludwig Museum, Budapest

September - October 2000 Foundation Miro, Barcelona

November - December 2000 Hansard Gallery/City Gallery, Southampton