Vienna Art Book Fair

Program
Sunday, October 06, 2019

1:00 pm, SR 26
ARTIST TALK: Reiner Riedler in conversation with Vreni Hockenjos

Steaming hot off the press comes Reiner Riedler’s most recent photobook SWEAT. It contains a series of extraordinary portraits of people using their perspiration. In conversation with media scholar Vreni Hockenjos, who wrote the preface to the book, Riedler presents his unique photographic method of capturing the “true essence” of his fellow human beings. The “hidrographic” images not only allude to ancient iconic traditions such as Veronica’s Veil or the Turin Shroud but also raise questions on the nature of the photographic image more generally. For the brave, there will be an opportunity to have their picture taken!
Riedler is also one of the founders of Reflektor, a Vienna-based platform and network for the promotion of self-published photobooks. As such, the talk will also address the advantages (and pitfalls) of self-publishing for photographers and discuss the concept behind the Reflektor community.

reflektor.org

Stop by at the Reflektor booth at the fair to find out more and have a look at the many other exciting publications by Relfektor members.

2:00 pm, SR 26

ARTIST TALK: Michael Wegerer in conversation with Christine Humpl-Mazegger
mikewegerer.com

3:00 pm, SR 26

ARTIST TALK: Simon Brugner in conversation with Michael Kollmann

The photo book expert Michael Kollmann in conversation with Simon Brugner on reading between the images, concepts of reality, the book as “Welterklärungsmodell”, and his recently published, internationally acclaimed book The Arsenic Eaters (The Eriskay Connection).
In The Arsenic Eaters, Simon Brugner investigates the historical myth that the consumption of arsenic, one of the most potent mineral poisons, is beneficial to one’s health. How is it possible to present a legend, when there is little documentation about it, and its very existence is even in doubt? Simon Brugner combines contemporary and archival images in a visual narrative, while providing extensive background research on everything from Renaissance medical writings to the mineralogical aspects of arsenic itself. The work comes together in a kind of intellectual investigation and re-enactment, trying to piece together the links between the lives, surroundings, and behaviors that might have led to this peculiar practice. Images of a sinewy hand or the muscles of a tough calf are no longer innocent, but become suspect. Within this context, even historical pictures no longer appear so neutral or folkloric, but rather seem to reveal the forbidden traces of arsenic.simonbrugner.com
eriskayconnection.com

4:00 pm, SR 26

HOW TO MAKE A BOOK
Panel with Sandra Schmidt (europapier.com) and Sonja Russ (Medienfabrik Graz)
more info: tba

5:00 pm

PERFORMANCE TALK: Milan Mijalkovic
albumverlag.at