Herbert Brandl for the Vienna State Opera House
A landmarked firewall as a living exhibition
Background
The fire protection wall between stage and auditorium of the Vienna State Opera is there to prevent the spread of fire if necessary – like any other firewall. Since 1998, however, this wall has been much more than that: The art club “museum in progress” yearly turns it into a temporary and living museum space in cooperation with Vienna State Opera and Bundestheater-Holding.
Modern art on cultural treasure- 176 m2 on PVC with fire protection certification.
Challenge: TREVISION produced and installed the impressively large art works. The main challenge for the project “Iron Curtain” was not to modify the landmarked and original fire protection wall of the Vienna State Opera.
Solution: This year’s artwork by Austrian artist Herbert Brandl was printed onto PVC mesh using an innovative process. The installation is mounted directly onto the listed fire safety curtain using magnets. This technique leaves Rudolf Eisenmenger’s post-war curtain—a symbol of reconstruction—untouched, while providing an impressive stage for contemporary art.
THE RESULT: INTENSE COLOURS FOR INTENSE MOMENTS
The 29th edition of the “Safety Curtain” will be on display until the end of June 2027. Austrian artist Herbert Brandl’s 176 m² work draws visitors into a powerful interplay of blue and white brushstrokes, evoking associations with the sky, the sea and views from outer space. It can be experienced before and after performances as well as during intervals.
Credits:
Herbert Brandl, 2023/26, Eiserner Vorhang, museum in progress, Wiener Staatsoper, 2026/27, Großbild
Fotos: Andreas Scheiblecker, © museum in progress (www.mip.at)
