About 18 percent increase in visitor numbers +++Focus on CEE countries as dray-horse for international collectors +++ galleries were very satisfied with sales +++

VIENNA (30 April 2007). – Last night (29 April 2007) the third issue of the international fair for contemporary art >VIENNAFAIR< has ended in Vienna’s trade fair centre MessezentrumWienNeu. The fair’s focus was the same as for the previous two issues – the Central, South-eastern and Eastern European countries (CEE). From the 107 exhibiting galleries (106 in 2006) 27 were from the focus region. Thanks to this conceptual focus the >VIENNAFAIR<, organised by Reed Exhibitions Messe Wien, has in its third edition definitely established itself amongst the international art fairs as a must for collectors, connoisseurs and media representatives from around the world. In total 14,753 visitors were registered on the preview day (25th April) and on the consecutive days of the fair (26th to 29th April) which means a plus of 18.8 percent compared to last year (2006: 12,417). “We have placed high hopes into the third edition of the >VIENNAFAIR<; they were achieved. The anew growth in visitor numbers as well as the sale figures of the galleries proved that our concept on focussing on the CEE-region offers a highly interesting and exceedingly dynamic niche”, says DI Matthias Limbeck, CEO in charge of new business at Reed Exhibitions Messe Wien, and draws a positive résumé. “We are very happily looking back on a continuous growth of the number of visitors as well as an increase in the numbers of collectors especially visiting Vienna for the >VIENNAFAIR< over the last three years”, says Exhibition Manager Daniela Hinterhölzl. “This is a development which promises great potential for the future.”

Also very pleased was Edek Bartz the Exhibition Director and artistic head of the >VIENNAFAIR<, who in cooperation with the advisory committee proved high skills in the assembly and the gathering of the exhibiting galleries. “I am tired but happy. The numerous congratulations for the successful >VIENNAFAIR 2007< which I received from galleries, collectors and guests from all over the world, had made me forget the strains of the time running up to the fair. The >VIENNAFAIR 2007< hit the bulls eye!”, says Edek Bartz. A considerable effort for the success of the >VIENNAFAIR< came from the numerous patrons and sponsors, but also from the many Austrian galleries, which build the backbone of the >VIENNAFAIR< with their international programs.

Good results for the galleries

“Almost like at the opening night!”, that’s how full the hall A of the MessezentrumWienNeu was shortly before the fair closed at 6 pm on Sunday 29th April. The gallery owner, who made this statement at his own surprise, stood contented in front of his exhibition stand and remarked a very good turnover during the four days of the fair. “A number of galleries in Berlin are eagerly expecting our report from Vienna which will be accordingly positive”, confirms Andreas Wiesner from the gallery Kunstagenten and she also stated that the decision to choose Vienna instead of Cologne or Dusseldorf for exhibiting was right. Next to some pieces from Thorsten Brinkmann the gallery could also sell five of the six pieces of art brought to Vienna from the young artist Lars Teichmann at prices from 4,000 to 6,000 Euros during their first time participance at the >VIENNAFAIR<. Surprised by the open mind of the Austrian collectors was the gallery U7 from Frankfurt, which sold an installation from Simona Galeckaité during the opening night to an Austrian private collection. In spending mood were also Austrian institutional collectors: Agnes and Karlheinz Essl bought a piece from Thilo Baumgärtel (no title 2007, 200 x 250 cm, 45,000 Euros) at the Wilkinson Gallery (London), Reinhard Platzer, chairman of the board of the Kommunalkredit Austria AG, decided to buy two pieces from Andreas Leikauf at the gallery Ernst Hilger and one piece from Alexandra Huber at the gallery Chobot for the collection of the Kommunalkredit. Ariane Neuberger placed an offer of 20,000 Euros for the collection of the Bank Austria at the gallery Chobot and the gallery Hohenlohe with works from Otto Zitko and Michael Kienzer. Klaus Albrecht Schröder, director of the Albertina bought a drawing from Brigitte Waldach (4,500 Euros) at the DNA gallery from Berlin and MUMOK-director Edelbert Köb invested the fund provided by Mondi Packaging for pieces from Kamen Stoyanovs presentation at the gallery Dana Charski in the ZONE1. Additionally Köb selected the artist who was born in Bulgaria and now living in Vienna for an exhibition in the MUMOK.

CEE-Focus as dray-horse for collectors and curators

Especially the focus on the CEE-region which was densely filled with 27 galleries proved to be an attractive motivation for international collectors to visit the Vienna art fair. “We could tie important new contacts with collectors and curators here in Vienna and all our customers from the last years have revisited us”, says Aneta Marcinkowska-Muszynska from the Warsaw based Program Gallery. For the Photon Galerija from Ljubljana, Slovenia, the >VIENNAFAIR 2007< was the first participation at an art fair ever, also for the F.A.I.T. from Cracow, Poland. Both were very happy with the high interest of the visitors. “With the sales here in Vienna we are now able to finance important investments in the gallery itself”, underlines Zuzana Janin the importance of the cooperation between the >VIENNAFAIR< and the ERSTE BANK, which as main sponsor had supported the participation of 15 Eastern European galleries.

Vienna positioned itself as a market place for art

Particularly the Viennese galleries, which had organised a special evening with openings and special presentations as well as a brunch during the course of the >VIENNAFAIR<, could draw profit from the many international collectors. “We sold particularly well during the >VIENNAFAIR< as well as in our galleries”, says Dr. Ursula Krinzinger, Rosemarie Schwarzwälder and Mag. Gabiriele Senn, all members of the advisory committee. But also galleries from the federal states in Austria can be happy for their participation. Patrick Ebensperger sold a 185 x 416 cm drawing from Hauenschild/Ritter (21,000 Euros) and still is in negotiation for a bigger project. The Thoman gallery could sell a work by Günther Förg for 36,000 Euros. The Tazl gallery found a potential buyer for Yves Klein’s edition “Nike of Samothrake” and the Schmidt gallery celebrated the young artist Martin Pohl as the great discovery of the fair after numerous sales.

Prize for the best designed exhibition stand:
layr:wuestenhagen contemporary

The jury’s decision for the best designed exhibition stand with the gallery award by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce was also heartily welcomed. The Viennese gallery layr:wuestenhagen contemporary won the award. The jury heard Michael Hochenegg, vice-president of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Agnes Husslein-Arco, director of the Österreichischen Galerie Belvedere, Dr. Gerald Matt, director of the Kunsthalle Wien and the art critic Nina Schedlmayer (writing for the Austrian journals “Profil” and “artmagazine”).

Winner of the ZONE1: Kamen Stoyanov

Then, a few moments later, Edelbert Köb, director of the MUMOK (museum of modern art foundation Ludwig Vienna) took the next, eagerly awaited, decision in the course of the professional preview. From ZONE1, he chose Bulgarian-born Kamen Stoyanov, who now lives in Vienna, represented by the young gallery Dana Charkasi. Stoyanov’s works will be exhibited in the MUMOK. In addition, Mr Köb also decided that Kamen Stoyanov’s installation will be bought for the collection of the MUMOK with the budget destined at buying art works Mondi Packaging provided for the MUMOK especially for the >VIENNAFAIR 2007<.

Direction for the future: consistently follow the path of success

“The success of the >VIENNAFAIR 2007< is a stimulus for the next edition in the year 2008 and we will try to continue the positive development”, says Edek Bartz when pointing out the direction for the upcoming event. (+++)

For further Press & PR Information please contact:
Reed Exhibitions Messe Wien/ Press & PR information:
Manager: Paul Hammerl

Oliver-John Perry
Phone: +43 (0)1 727 20 226, Fax 441
E-mail: Oliver-John.Perry @messe.at

Iris Maier
Phone: +43 (0)1 727 20 224, Fax 441
E-mail: iris.maier@messe.at

Christina Werner, w.hoch.2wei,
Phone: +43 (0)1 524 96 46-22
E-mail: werner@kunstnet.at

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