The 80's; Art of the 80's. Albertina Modern, Vienna: Wednesday Oct 27th 2021

https://www.albertina.at/en/albertina-modern/exhibitions/the-80s-art-of-the-eighties/

This was a richly satisfying exhibition and most illuminating. The 80’s are famed for many things (not least the popular music; I do think that the curators missed a trick in not having an 80’s music soundtrack in at least some of the rooms) but the art is, I think, often overlooked. This exhibition opened my eyes not least to the importance of figurative painting compared the major trends of previous decades and the idea that figurative painting was somehow ‘old hat’. The other element that came across very strongly was the wonderful and vibrant colours that were such a major part of the art then.

The information about each room was very well done, with just enough material to involve one and put the art in some sort of context but without being over-explicative. This show, along with the Schiele, are the openers for this magnificent new gallery and if they are setting the standard and tone for the future – well, the Viennese are very lucky indeed.

Schiele and his Legacy. Albertina Modern, Vienna. Wednesday Oct 27th 2021

Young Generation. Mate Orr. Varfok Galeria; Oct 15th 2021