Vienna’s City Councilor for Culture Kaup-Hasler praised the teaching of a differentiated perspective and the commitment to a solidarity-based society of the distinguished
Vienna (OTS) – On Friday afternoon, City Councilor for Culture Veronica Kaup-Hasler, on behalf of Mayor Michael Ludwig, awarded the art historian Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat and the author and cultural history researcher Ernst Strouhal the Golden Medal of Honor for services to the State of Vienna in the filled to capacity Wappensaal of the Vienna City Hall.
In addition to the laudators, Johanna Schwanberg, art historian, Austrian ICOM President and director of the Dom Museum Vienna, as well as the cultural scientist and philosopher Thomas Macho, the families of the winners, numerous friends and companions, the honor was attended by, among others, former Federal Minister Hilde Hawlicek, National Council member Eva Blimlinger, the vice-rector of the University of Applied Arts Brigitte Felderer, the director of the Jewish Museum Vienna Barbara Staudinger and journalist and artist Ernst Bronner. The musical tribute was provided by the Art4Strings string quartet, who interpreted pop music classics such as Neil Diamond’s “I’m a believer” and “Reach” by S Club 7.
Kaup-Hasler: Hammer-Tugendhat worked on a new way of seeing, Strouhal created new approaches to everyday culture in science
In her thanks to the pioneer of gender research in the discipline of art history, City Councilor for Culture Veronica Kaup-Hasler emphasized that Daniela Hammer-Tugendhats, in researching the male-dominated construction of images, “worked on a reorganization, indeed on a new way of seeing, and ensured this that this always critical, always differentiating and feminist view is reflected in the next generation. Kaup-Hasler thanked the scientist for her commitment to “taking a clear stand against simplified dichotomous thinking, against quick attributions and the lack of listening. Because this has acquired a dominance in our time that is dangerous to democracy and endangers our coexistence. The ability to think differently is sharpened by people like Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat.”
Ernst Strouhal, as a cultural scientist, pointed out things that are not included in the mainstream view, such as the social dimensions of the game. “As a teacher, Ernst Strouhal has opened up new horizons in the study of everyday history.” Kaup-Hasler thanked Strouhal for the large intellectual spectrum that you have defined in your work and also for his constant commitment to a solidarity-based and better society.”
Laudator Schwanberg: Innovative art historian, passionate teacher and critical contemporary
Laudator Johanna Schwanberg emphasized in her speech that Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat was a pioneer of feminist art studies, celebrated like a pop star. Because “their image analyzes make the world tangible in all its complexity, beauty, cruelty and contradictions. Her research is so important for society because it shows that images help to constitute reality and that art can also visualize things that are repressed or hidden by society. Schwanberg continues: “Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat has enriched the intellectual life of Vienna, and indeed of Austria as a cultural country: as an innovative art historian, a crystal-clear author, a captivating lecturer, a passionate teacher and always a politically committed, critical contemporary.”
Thomas Macho: Strouhal thinks while walking
Ernst Strouhal’s laudator, Thomas Macho, gave an outline of the awardee’s detailed journalistic and research work on the cultural history of games and the history of magic and stage magic. Macho described Strouhal’s immersive style of writing, his capture of exciting worlds in works so complex that entire lectures could be devoted to them. Macho Ernst Strouhal’s “Thinking while Walking” was particularly highlighted: In his contemporary novel “Four Sisters. “Faraway Vienna, Strange World” would interweave pictorial descriptions of the city with political questions about time and identity. In his work, Strouhal is a tireless searcher for new experiences and games that drive away boredom and melancholy.
In her thanks, Hammer-Tugendhat urged people to present ambiguities and take context into account
In her words of thanks, Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat emphasized that she also sees the honor as “recognition of an alternative art history that I have championed for decades. For an art history as a cultural science that always sees art in a social context, as an active participation and at the same time formation of our reality.” The importance of the arts, the honoree continued, “lies in the complexity of experience, in the possibility of infinitely complicated relationships human relationships, but also in social and political conditions in their ambiguity and with all the often irresolvable contradictions, and to allow them to be experienced.” Finally, Hammer-Tugendhat said that the importance of taking the context into account is “particularly at a time when In our country too, the political discourse is becoming more and more radicalized and two sides are increasingly becoming irreconcilable, far beyond the analysis of art. As a Jew, I am particularly sensitive to the catastrophe taking place in Israel and Gaza. This tragedy, in all its complexity and contradictions, can only be roughly understood if one goes far back into history and tries to understand all the sides involved in their respective contexts.”
Strouhal: Accurate language, knowledge and history are the best option against barbarism
Ernst Strouhal also used his words of thanks to remember three Viennese biographies who “made contributions to this city but are unfortunately forgotten today.” Strouhal named resistance fighter Anni Haider, who took part in the February 1934 fighting. He also remembered Maria Toppeiner, a worker who, at the risk of her life, provided loaves of bread to prisoners of war who were destined for starvation by the Nazis in the last weeks of the war. And Strouhal spoke about Maxl Stern, a Viennese taxi driver and resistance fighter who fought against the Austrofascists, against the fascists in Spain and against the Nazis. “In memory of these three, we should ask ourselves why we do all this. Hopefully, so that history doesn’t repeat itself in this city. Unfortunately, precise language, knowledge and history are no guarantee against barbarism, as recent history has shown. But I think they are the best option against it.”
Course biography of Daniel Hammer-Tugendhat
Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat was born in 1946 in Caracas, where her parents Grete and Fritz Stimmehat had fled from Nazi terror. In 1950 the family returned to Europe and settled in St. Gallen. She studied art history and classical archeology at the University of Bern from 1964, moved to the University of Vienna in 1968 and completed her dissertation on Hieronymus Bosch in 1975.
This was followed by a teaching position at the then College of Applied Arts. Women’s and gender issues are the focus of her academic work, an area in which she completed her habilitation in 1993 in Oldenburg and 1994 in Vienna. From 1998 until her retirement in 2012, she was an associate professor at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, but still works as an honorary professor. Her commitment to feminist concerns went far beyond her immediate academic work: she was involved in initiatives to promote women in science and organized conferences and research projects.
https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Daniela_Hammer-Tugendhat
Course biography of Ernst Strouhal
Ernst Strouhal, born in Vienna in 1957, completed his studies at the University of Vienna with a dissertation on “Hermeneutics and the Avant-Garde. On the Theory of Poetic Practice.” As a cultural scientist, Strouhal focuses on the cultural history of the game. He teaches as an associate professor at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and as a lecturer at the Technical University of Vienna.
Since the 1990s, Ernst Strouhal has curated numerous exhibitions on the subject of games and magic. In addition to his extensive journalistic work, he has been responsible for the weekly chess page in the daily newspaper Der Standard since 1990. Ernst Strouhal received the Austrian State Prize for Cultural Journalism in 2011; His book “The World in Play – Atlas of Playable Maps” was also awarded a state prize in 2016.
https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Ernst_Strouhal
Press photos: presse.wien.gv.at/bilder
Questions & Contact:
Anne Katrin Fessler
Mediensprecherin StRin Mag.a Veronica Kaup-Hasler
+43 1 4000 – 811 91
annekatrin.fessler@wien.gv.at