Photo: Ida Räther

SURVIVAL ARTISTS
Poverty made in Austria

According to Statistics Austria more than one million Austrians are poor or vulnerable to poverty. 511,000 people live in actual poverty. Behind these figures lie stories that you can’t see and don’t want to see. “Poverty made in Austria” is often hidden poverty. In an affluent country like Austria nobody wants to admit to being poor.

Thus the idea for a joint photographic project between the Volkshilfe Vienna and the Photography School Vienna emerged, through which this shamefully hidden und thereby invisible poverty should be given a face. The participating photographers show the residents and the every day life of a Viennese residential home for older previously homeless people.

Photo: Ionut Emil Diaconu

The students from the project class at the Photography School Vienna accompany some of the residents and work together with them to collect and bring to light their biographies. In doing so they show how quickly job loss or divorce can lead into the poverty trap and the alcohol-drowned frustration does the rest.

The exhibition follows the tradition of social documentary photography and shows images of people who are trying, despite many problems, to exist as ‘SURVIVAL ARTISTS’.

During the exhibition there will be a fashion show by young Austrian designers, who will use the garments from the second hand stores of the Volkshilfe to put together new collections, and thereby once forgotten items will have a new life breathed into them. Through this, even the garments are offered a new perspective.

Exhibiting photographers:

René Baumgartner, Ionut Emil Diaconu, Pepa Georgieva, Markus Hippmann, Richard Pobaschnig, Ida Räther, Bärbel Tomas

Photo: Richard Probaschnig

Photography exhibition in the Volkshilfe Würfel
Volkshilfe Wüfel, Muthgasse 105, 1190 Vienna

Opening: Monday 19th November 2012, 7pm

Opening Hours: 20th November - 19th December 2012
Monday to Thuryday: 8 am-6 pm
Friday: 8 am-1 pm

Admission free

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