Culture 2008

tional types of food and drink. One of these is the well-known Wachau apricot schnapps, an especially fine drink.
A good apricot schnapps, by the way, can be recognised by its intensive aroma of ripe fruit, while visually it is as
clear as water. Gourmets describe the alcohol content of this fruity schnapps, about 40 per cent, as ideal for
drinking enjoyment.
Art of the present day
The Essl Collection is among the world’s largest private
collections of contemporary art, which, over the course of
35 years of passion for art, has grown to some 6,000 works.
Austrian painting from 1945 represents a strong focus of the
collection, but since the 1990s increased attention has also
been directed to international art – with prominence given to
current works by young artists. Today, important artists from
Europe, the US, Australia, Mexico and China are represented,
and the media is not restricted
to painting and sculpture but
also encompasses photography,
video and new media. The
museum contains 7,600 m2 of
exhibition and storage space.
In the innovatively designed
galleries, the accessibility of
the art works to the viewer is
enhanced by the exciting in-
terplay between the work, light
The collector couple Agnes and Karlheinz Essl
and space.
The art works are presented in about ten high-quality exhibitions
per year in new, constantly varying dialogues: 2008 will
see a major retrospective of Gerhard Richter, a joint show of
works by Israeli and Palestinian artists and exhibits spotlighting
young emerging artists from Austria.
The museum, which is completely autonomous and privately
financed, sees itself as a place where visitors can openly engage
with art. A varied workshop programme promotes encountering
art on a personal level and allows participants to
get hands-on experience with artistic concepts and materials.
The workshops are suitable for children, youth and
adults alike.
The promotion of contemporary, electronic and experimental
music is an additional focus. With concerts, performances
and sound installations, in particular the >react-chain<
series, the composer Karlheinz Essl, Jr. has succeeded in
creating an internationally renowned forum for new music
in a museum context.
Info and bookings.
ESSL MUSEUM
A-3400 Klosterneuburg / Wien
An der Donau-Au 1
Only a 25-minute drive from downtown Vienna
+43 (0) 2243 370 50 150
www.essl.museum
Opening times.
TUE. – SUN. 10am-6pm
WED. 10am– 9pm; FREE ADMISSION beginning at 6pm!
museums.
exhibitions.
lower austria
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