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Vienna swingers club part of art exhibit
Source: Agencies |
February 24, 2010, Wednesday
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IN the name of art, an Austrian landmark is encouraging visitors to confront their sexual inhibitions by having them walk through a swingers club to reach one of Gustav Klimt's masterpieces.
The Secession - a world-renowned venue for contemporary art in downtown Vienna - has temporarily incorporated a sex club named "Element6" as part of a project by Swiss artist Christoph Buechel.
The swingers are not there during the day, but their mattresses, erotic pictures, bar and whirlpool are.
Secession spokeswoman Urte Schmitt-Ulms said Buechel hoped to spark a stir reminiscent of the scandal Klimt caused when his "Beethoven Frieze" was first exhibited in 1902. Now considered one of the Austrian painter's key pieces, it was once thought of as obscene and pornographic because of the way women's bodies were depicted.
The club opens at night after the art hall closes, but daytime visitors aged above 18 pass through it on their way to see the Klimt painting.
Buechel declined to comment on his project, but the club, normally located in another part of town, said its participation "aims to give as many people as possible the opportunity to overcome their inhibitions."
"In the framework of this exhibition at the Secession, each individual can test for himself or herself whether this opens up new dimensions for his or her own sexuality," the club said in a statement.
On the streets of Vienna, people appeared OK with the project.
The Secession - a world-renowned venue for contemporary art in downtown Vienna - has temporarily incorporated a sex club named "Element6" as part of a project by Swiss artist Christoph Buechel.
The swingers are not there during the day, but their mattresses, erotic pictures, bar and whirlpool are.
Secession spokeswoman Urte Schmitt-Ulms said Buechel hoped to spark a stir reminiscent of the scandal Klimt caused when his "Beethoven Frieze" was first exhibited in 1902. Now considered one of the Austrian painter's key pieces, it was once thought of as obscene and pornographic because of the way women's bodies were depicted.
The club opens at night after the art hall closes, but daytime visitors aged above 18 pass through it on their way to see the Klimt painting.
Buechel declined to comment on his project, but the club, normally located in another part of town, said its participation "aims to give as many people as possible the opportunity to overcome their inhibitions."
"In the framework of this exhibition at the Secession, each individual can test for himself or herself whether this opens up new dimensions for his or her own sexuality," the club said in a statement.
On the streets of Vienna, people appeared OK with the project.
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