--- type: exposition title: Face to Face language: en url: "https://www.belvedere.at/en/marc-quinn" --- # Face to Face ## Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt ![Messerschmidt Kopf und Gipsabdruck auf rotem Hintergrund](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/header_cropped_1920x480_fp/public/2021-12/Belvedere-Marketing_web.jpg.webp?itok=qlN6p5pl) **Duration:** 24 February 2022 - 3 July 2022 Artist Marc Quinn will juxtapose his eight-part series *Emotional Detox* with the iconic “character heads” by Baroque sculptor Franz Xaver Messerschmidt. The exhibition at the Upper Belvedere presents a thoughtful and impactful dialogue between contemporary art and major works from the museum’s collection. Messerschmidt’s work has long been an inspiration to Quinn, and the “character heads” directly influenced the creation of *Emotional Detox*. Curated by Stella Rollig. ### [Upper Belvedere](https://www.belvedere.at/en/visit/upper-belvedere) **Opening hours:** Monday to Sunday, 9 am - 6 pm **Address:** Upper Belvedere, 1030 Vienna ([Getting there]()) [Tickets](https://www.belvedere.at/en/tickets?location%5B0%5D=1) ##### In cooperation with - [derstandard.at](http://derstandard.at/) - [Logo Dorotheum](http://www.dorotheum.at) ## Impressions - ![Ausstellungsansichten "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Exhibition view "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-02/MarcQuinn_Messerschmidt%20Presse-12.jpg.webp?itok=1s37gULZ) - ![Skulptur eines männlichen Oberkörpers aus Wachs und Gips — Marc Quinn, Emotional Detox: The Seven Deadly Sins IV, 1995 — © Marc Quinn Studio — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-02/4.jpg.webp?itok=xGZ4QY7I) - ![Skulptur eines männlichen Oberkörpers aus Wachs und Gips — Marc Quinn, Emotional Detox: The Seven Deadly Sins V, 1995 — © Marc Quinn Studio — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-02/5.jpg.webp?itok=lSTjIQ6A) - ![Skulptur eines männlichen Oberkörpers aus Wachs und Gips — Marc Quinn, Emotional Detox: The Seven Deadly Sins VI, 1995 — © Marc Quinn Studio — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-02/6.jpg.webp?itok=4jGF3cwO) - ![Skulptur eines männlichen Oberkörpers aus Wachs und Gips — Marc Quinn, Emotional Detox: The Seven Deadly Sins VII, 1995 — © Marc Quinn Studio — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-02/7.jpg.webp?itok=F2jysWfs) - ![Büste aus Bleiguss — Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, Ein düstrer finstrer Mann, 1770/1783 — © Belvedere, Vienna — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-02/Belvedere%20Heads000020.jpg.webp?itok=pPgMchfd) - ![Büste aus Alabaster — Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, Ein Erhängter, 1771/1783 — © Belvedere, Vienna — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-02/Belvedere%20Heads000022.jpg.webp?itok=H1NdMQSu) - ![Büste aus Alabaster — Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, Ein Schalksnarr, 1777/1783 — © Belvedere, Vienna — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-02/Belvedere%20Heads000044.jpg.webp?itok=t3rKUdER) - ![Büste aus braun geflecktem Alabaster auf pinken Hintergrund — Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, Zweiter Schnabelkopf, 1777/1781 — © Belvedere, Vienna — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-01/Belvedere%20Head%20pink%2000003.jpg.webp?itok=Coqk6cin) - ![cast lead sculpture on pink background — Marc Quinn, Fear of Fear, 1994 — © Marc Quinn Studio — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-01/ED%20FOF%2000006.jpg.webp?itok=xxg1HAU8) - ![Cast lead and wax sculpture on red background — Marc Quinn, Emotional Detox: The Seven Deadly Sins VI, 1995 — © Marc Quinn Studio — Image courtesy of Marc Quinn studio](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2022-01/Screenshot%202022-01-17%20at%2017.57.06.png.webp?itok=g81S31Nt) ## The Exhibition - ![Ausstellungsansichten "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Exhibition view "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2022-02/MarcQuinn_Messerschmidt%20Presse-1.jpg.webp?itok=hdyP_pSi) - ![Ausstellungsansichten "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Exhibition view "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2022-02/MarcQuinn_Messerschmidt%20Presse-3.jpg.webp?itok=F8ihCHbz) - ![Ausstellungsansichten "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Exhibition view "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2022-02/MarcQuinn_Messerschmidt%20Presse-4.jpg.webp?itok=Wvl-_OFa) - ![Ausstellungsansichten "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Exhibition view "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2022-02/MarcQuinn_Messerschmidt%20Presse-5.jpg.webp?itok=a-cDhNCx) - ![Ausstellungsansichten "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Exhibition view "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2022-02/MarcQuinn_Messerschmidt%20Presse-10.jpg.webp?itok=hCR58ZbN) - ![Ausstellungsansichten "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Exhibition view "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2022-02/MarcQuinn_Messerschmidt%20Presse-11.jpg.webp?itok=UWPusslN) - ![Ausstellungsansichten "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Exhibition view "FACE TO FACE. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2022-02/MarcQuinn_Messerschmidt%20Presse-7.jpg.webp?itok=Cck26cZc) Marc Quinn’s eight life-sized sculptural self-portraits were created during a challenging period in his life. In the early 1990’s, the artist was processing the transformation brought on by the end of his alcohol addiction, and spent hours visiting the Messerschmidt sculpture ‘The Strong Smell’ at the V&A in London. Enamoured by the 18th century artist’s expressive depictions, Quinn was inspired to translate into sculpture his physical and psychological torment of detoxification. Using lead and wax, Quinn turned his feelings into physical expressions. Traces of how the works were made and finished remain suspended within the materiality of each artwork. Grooves, convulsions and handprints etched within each expression, as though toxicity has been forced out of the skin. Capturing fleeting emotions in facial expressions and gestures through sculpture connects Marc Quinn and Franz Xaver Messerschmidt across centuries. Both artists’ use lead in their work which is a material famed for its toxicity and role in the fabled alchemic journey that results in gold, a symbol of the beginning of transformation. Both artists’ autobiographical works grapple with profoundly personal transitions in life and offer poignant self-portrayals. This exhibition is the very first showing of these works together. ## The Artist **Franz Xaver Messerschmidt** created his “character heads” in the last phase of his life from 1770/71 to 1783. Deeply disappointed by the Vienna art world, he had withdrawn to live an isolated existence in Pressburg/Bratislava. Mysteries still shroud the creation, motifs, and purpose of these sometimes grotesquely contorted faces. According to the latest research, Messerschmidt may have suffered from dystonia and his “character heads” seem to document observations of these involuntary muscle spasms. The Belvedere owns the largest collection of Messerschmidt’s “character heads.” With a fascination that endures to this day, they remain current and thus invite juxtaposition with contemporary artworks. **Marc Quinn**, born 1964, is one of the leading artists of his generation. His sculptures, paintings and drawings explore the relationship between art and science; humans and nature; and the human body and the perception of beauty. His work connects frequently and meaningfully with art history, from modern masters right back to antiquity. Quinn came to prominence in 1991 with his sculpture *Self* (1991), a cast of the artist’s head made from eight pints of his own frozen blood. While much of his early work focused on explorations of self, Quinn soon became fascinated in reflecting the experiences of others, questioning value, perception and the fault lines of society. Other critically acclaimed works include **Alison Lapper Pregnant** (2005), exhibited on the Fourth Plinth of London’s Trafalgar Square; *Planet* (2008), a monumental rendition of the artist’s son as a baby, permanently installed in Gardens by the Bay, Singapore; *Breath* (2012), a colossal replica of *Alison Lapper Pregnant* commissioned for the 2012 London Paralympics opening ceremony; and *Self Conscious Gene* (2019) a 3.5 metre bronze sculpture of ‘Zombie Boy’ Rick Genest, now on permanent display at the Science Museum, London. Quinn’s work is included in collections around the world, including Tate, London (UK), Metropolitan Museum New York (USA), Guggenheim, Venice (Italy), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (Netherlands) and the Centre Pompidou, Paris (France). ## Videos **Face to Face. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (Part 1)** **Face to Face. Marc Quinn meets Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (Part 2)**