Monopulism

The Austrian Cultural Forum New York, in collaboration with studio das weisse haus and Erste Bank, is pleased to present the new multi-media installation Monopulism by Austrian artist Karl Salzmann – winner of the second Erste Bank ExtraVALUE Art Award. On display from June 29 to September 4, 2017, Monopulism presents an artistic and scientific approach to sound as a weapon and means of manipulation and oppression.

The neologism Monopulism creatively combines attributes of the terms mono, populism, monopole and manipulation in an artistic space. Composed of pre-existent works and new pieces specifically tailored to the ACFNY’s gallery space, Salzmann’s installation comprises elements including a wooden bar, an acoustic monument and two automated vacuum cleaners, autonomously roaming the area. These single elements, if observed isolated, may not seem menacing at all, but their activity and interplay remains somehow irritating.

One of the objects on display, the acoustic monument titled Lautsprechermonument, emits a near-inaudible low frequency signal resonating with the room causing physical unease and the feeling of an invisible threat. As soon as the monument comes alive, it blanks out everything else. Conversations are no longer possible and staying in the exhibition space becomes almost unbearable.

Monopulism reflects upon social and political influences and transforms them into metaphors and signs through their visual and acoustic manifestation. Their neutral, sober presentation leaves it entirely up to the viewer to interpret relations between different arguments, without proposing predefined opinions or solutions.

Salzmann, born 1979 in Vorarlberg, Austria, holds a diploma from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. He followed his interest in acoustics, taking classes in Computermusik & New Media (elak) from 2011-2012 at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and is currently writing his doctoral thesis at the Academy of Fine Arts. He mainly focuses on sound research, experimental music and contemporary musical phenomena. During his intensive work with sound, rhythm and their various audio-visual forms, he found his way to a form language, which is characterized by its simplicity as well as restraint of movement and sound.

Salzmann’s works have (among others) been presented at: Kunsthaus Graz (2013, solo), Kunsthalle Bratislava (2014, solo), MAK – museum of applied arts Vienna (2012), Athens Digital Art Festival (2014), Künstlerhaus Wien (2013) and are in the public collections of the Austrian government, city of Vienna and the province of Vorarlberg. Karl Salzmann also currently works as a lecturer, researcher and artistic & scientific assistant at the department of art & science at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.