The exhibition 'shopping' in the Generali Foundation invites to reflect on the multifaceted aspects of consumer culture. The starting point is a favourite part of popular culture which, nowadays, does not necessarily involve the purchase of a specific product. Shopping is no longer restricted to the acquisition of goods but is an experience in itself.

Promenading along shopping streets, strolling and observing at the same time, has become a common pastime. Leisure time is spent in places which function as hidden markets. Visitors to the exhibition will find many different domains within which to experience, understand and critically reflect on aspects of 'shopping'. Simultaneously the exhibition space functions as a site of production and communication, and expands with the audio tour into the city. The Audio-shopping-tour by Anette Baldauf and Katharina Weingartner starts with the visitor's experience and proposes to reflect on the economic, cultural and political contexts. The Media-station takes up the issue of the transformation from industry- to information- and media-economy and offers the possibility of medially re-working 'shopping' in various formats. In the Cineplex, the consumption of film and TV is positioned within the wider context of the consumer culture and a selected video library offers insight into the discussion of the 'shopping' theme. A Photo-series from Alice Arnold and Maria Ziegelböck which arose parallel to a research project, visually grasps the identity of shopping. The poster campaign, consisting of four subjects from Vienna and New York, declares the street to an exhibition and operates on the borders between advertising aesthetics and reality. Self-service, a project from Alan Bruton, offers an opportunity for independent intervention and reconstructs the composite elements of branding. In the section 'Browsing Art' a collage of approximately 80 works from 60 artists of different generations and countries provides examples on the artistic discourse of consumer culture. Compiled by Dorit Margreiter, Sabine Breitwieser and Nadja Wiesner. The Generali Foundation show case (Karlsplatz Passage) will be conceived and designed in co-operation with the class for Visual Media Art and Design of the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. A number of discussions parallel to the exhibition offers the possibility of debating themes such as consumption, youth and neo-liberalism, production and distribution, the construction of the consumer, shopping for identity, consumption and the city. More information: www.gfound.or.at. The starting point for this interdisciplinary project was a micro-analysis within the framework of an ethnographic study carried out by Anette Baldauf and Katharina Weingartner, in collaboration with Alexandra Seibel and Heide Tebbich. It was concerned with the shopping practices of both individuals and groups within the context of youth culture, corporate principles of order in the areas of production and marketing and their embedding in the comprehensive social, political, economic and ecological connections. Shopping Concept: Anette Baldauf, Katharina Weingartner together with Dorit Margreiter Exhibition production: Nadja Wiesener Graphic design: Dorit Margreiter "No Self Service" Guided theme tours every Sunday 3 pm and by appointment Program for schools and groups Concept: Karin Schneider, Bärbel Zechner Appointments: (+43 1) 504 98 80 ext. 16 Exhibition hours Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 6 pm, Thursdays, till 8 pm Admission Regular ATS 60 (€ 4.40), reduced ATS 40 (€ 3) Family ticket ATS 150 (€ 11), children up to the age of 12, free admission Guided tours, admission plus ATS 20 (€ 1.50) Generali Foundation Card ATS 180 ( € 13) Reduced ATS 120 ( € 9), valid 12 months Reference Room: Library | Media Library | Archives | Collection Opening hours coincide with the exhibition hours or by appointment, (+43 1) 504 98 80 ext. 13, found.studienraum@generali.at Press office: Waltraud Haas (+43 1) 504 98 80 ext 24, found.presse@generali.at Artistic and Managing Director: Sabine Breitwieser The Generali Foundation is the art association of the Generali Vienna Group; its purpose is the support and promotion of contemporary art. Members are Generali Holding Vienna AG, Generali Versicherung AG, Generali Rückversicherung AG and Interunfall Versicherung, AG. 01/2001