7 November 2022

MAK presents the exhibition 'The Fest' for the exploration of the wide spectrum of festive events over centuries with design objects, art and announces the 'practical exercise' of an artists' fest

On 13 December, the new exhibition 'The Fest' with around 650 objects embedded in architectural installations will open on 1.480 square meters at the MAK - Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna. Until 7 May 2023, visitors can explore the wide spectrum of various fests. The word 'Fest' means the same in German and English and includes luxurious parties as well as gatherings on streets. 'The Fest - Between Representation And Revolt' is the full title of the exhibition. The curators of all MAK-departments worked together with the guest curator Brigitte Felderer and co-curator Olga Wukounig for the selection of design objects, jewelry, fashion,... for the panopticon of the changing culture of balls, weddings, political gatherings, or music clubs. The exploration reaches from the baroque to nowadays and brings especially the designers, craftspeople and artists who delivered the costumes, precious accessories, tableware or who planned, designed festive events in front of the curtain. Mentioned are designers like Christian Dior, Pierre Cardin, Fred Adlmüller or Helmut Lang and artists like Wolfgang Tillmans, Elke Krystufek, Gelitin, Yinka Shonibare, or Maria Ziegelböck, to name a few from the list.

Announced at the press release is a 'practical exercise' of one of the special topics of the exhibition, an artists' fest on 13 April 2023. More details and preview images are published at mak.at/en/thefest.

Images, from left: Austria-Costume from the belongings of the (future) Countess Mathilde von Attems, ca. 1898. Two parts; silk, lamé, pearls; according to the label manufactured by Grohmann und Nähr, Kärntner Ring 6. MAK, T-11283-1_3. Photo: © MAK/Branislav Djordjevic. Right: Rosette from the 'Haller' jewelry, 1570–1580. Execution: Münchner Hofwerkstatt. Gold, enamel, ruby, pearl. MAK, BJ-931-1. Photo: © MAK/Georg Mayer.