The story of the art recovery at the original location is retold
Altaussee (OTS) – At the opening, Simon Schwartz led a tour of the exhibition, which was realized in cooperation between Salzwelten GmbH and the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024 as part of the Power and Tradition program line. From March 23rd, “The Mountain, the Salt & the Art” can be viewed with free admission in the Steinberghause of the Altaussee Salt Worlds.
In the years 1943 to 1945, significant parts of the stolen art from all over Europe were located in the Altaussee salt mine in the Liezen district of Styria. A series of dramatic events occurred in April 1945, when the then Gauleiter made the decision to destroy the cultural assets. After hectic efforts and a sophisticated plan, the miners, the salt mine management and the salvage officers were able to thwart the destruction of the art treasures and the destruction of the mine. The German comic artist Simon Schwartz, a master at bringing contemporary history to life up close, was commissioned to draw the history of the Altaussee Salt Mountain over the last 7,000 years. “For me it was not only exciting to tell the spectacular story of art rescue, but also the fascinating 7,000-year history of salt mining in the region
“, said the artist Simon Schwartz.
Parallel to the exhibition Hidden in the Rock. The mountain, the salt & the art. In the Steinberghaus Salzwelten Altaussee, Simon Schwartz’s comic story will be published under the same title as a high-quality, hardback book edition by avant-verlag, Berlin, 2024 (ISBN:978-3-96445-111-8).
„Art is of great importance due to the historical events in the Altaussee salt mines. The salt mine is the original location; European art history took place here. With Simon Schwartz’s exhibition, we have found a new approach to art recovery and have also designed other areas in the Steinberghaus visitor center accordingly. We are particularly pleased to be able to conduct another in-depth discussion in the Altaussee Salt Worlds with the series of lectures on art recovery, which will take place in the Salt Worlds in the summer
“, explains Barbara Winkelbauer, managing director of Salzwelten GmbH.
„The Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024 is building commemorative landscapes with the “Power and Tradition” program line. The topic of art recovery has a special place in it. After the successful opening of the exhibition “The Journey of Images. Hitler’s cultural policy, art trade and storage during the Nazi era in the Salzkammergut this Tuesday in Lentos, I am looking forward to the exhibition ‘Hidden in the Rock. The Mountain, the Salt & the Art’ has found a partner in Salzwelten GmbH who takes up the topic of ‘art recovery’ at the original location. In addition to Hitler’s art theft, another important aspect is the still practiced systematic art theft and the destruction of cultural assets by supposed victors. A task that Europe must tackle urgently
“, Elisabeth Schweeger, artistic director of the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024.
Under the project title “The Journey of Images”, the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024 is presenting three exhibitions in cooperation with Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz: “The Journey of Images. Hitler’s cultural policy, art trade and storage during the Nazi era in the Salzkammergut” in the Lentos Art Museum Linz, in cooperation with the Kammerhofmuseum in Bad Aussee the exhibition “Wolfgang Gurlitt. Art dealer and profiteer in Bad Aussee” (28/03–03/11/2024) and in the revitalized Old Market Judge House in Lauffen near Bad Ischl the exhibition “The Life of Things. Stolen – kidnapped – rescued” (04/27 – 09/01/2024).
An all-inclusive ticket (Linz and Salzkammergut) for €35 is offered: all three exhibitions and a visit to the original location, the salt mines in Altaussee (guided tour of the mountain of treasures). Available in the Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz, Kammerhofmuseum Bad Aussee, in the Altaussee Salt Worlds and online.
Questions & Contact:
Harald Pernkopf
Salzwelten GmbH
0676 8781 2489
harald.pernkopf@salzwelten.at
Christina Werner
European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024
0699 10 48 70 72
c.werner@salzkammergut-2024.at