Hosted
A Village Becomes a Gallery
A small community in eastern Styria takes on the role of a gallery for the summer. 25 household have agreed to open their houses to the public for the duration of the event and convert them into exhibition venues for contemporary art. "It was certainly hard work", comment the project leader Mario Höfer, who himself comes from Leitersdorf, and Barbara Hölbling, as they look back at the months-long charm offensives and the efforts to convince the participants. In addition, the hosts of the project ‘Hosted' should develop a personal relation with the works of art and, if possible, offer visitors their own reflections on them.
The works chosen for ‘Hosted' are classical creations like those of Hermann Nitsch, who represents actionism, or Andy Warhol, who makes one think about the laws and rules of the art market, or a suit of the action artist Joseph Beuys, who represents conceptual art. The enthusiasm of having something hanging (or standing) at home, something one could never usually afford, should help open personal access and gain respect for the not always easy to understand modern art. The mayor Leo Josefus fully supports this project: "A community without art is not a community".