--- type: exposition title: Visionary Spaces. Walter Pichler meets Frederick Kiesler language: en url: "https://www.belvedere.at/en/visionary-spaces-walter-pichler-meets-frederick-kiesler" --- # Visionary Spaces. Walter Pichler meets Frederick Kiesler ## in a display by Sonia Leimer ![Walter Pichler, Unterirdisches Gebäude mit ausfahrbarem Kern, 1963](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/header_cropped_1920x480_fp/public/2024-05/Walter-Pichler_Unterirdisches-Geb%C3%A4ude-mit-ausfahrbarem-Kern_1963_Grafische-Sammlung_TLM.jpg.webp?itok=C7-2Id2c) **Duration:** 28 June 2024 - 6 October 2024 For all their differences, the oeuvres of Frederick Kiesler (1890 – 1965) and Walter Pichler (1936 – 2012) are based on a similar approach to questioning the relationship between humans and their surroundings. The two artists’ visionary ideas of spatial sculptures derive from the freedom of their trans-disciplinary thinking and creativity. Although Pichler was born almost half a century after Kiesler and the two lived on different continents, they did meet each other in person – in 1963 in New York. That was at a time when Pichler was decisively influencing the international debate on the future of building and housing, a discussion that was closely bound up with the critique of post-War functionalism. Kiesler and his transdisciplinary approach were re-discovered, as it were, and he became a key point of reference for the Austrian art and architecture scene. Taking the two artists’ meeting as its starting point, the exhibition explores the overlap between them in terms of content such as how the two delved into utopian architecture, principles of organic form, perception, spirituality, performativity, and design. In so doing, it underscores the visionary qualities of their respective avant-garde proposals and thus encourages the fruitful application of their ideas to current issues. Based on her own works, artist Sonia Leimer (born 1977) has developed a display for the encounter of these two distinctive oeuvres. Her mutable sculptural objects serve as walls, plinths, and interfaces within the gallery spaces. By overcoming the customary division of sculpture and architecture the objects draw on the artistic practice of both Kiesler and Pichler. An exhibition of the Belvedere, Vienna, in cooperation with the Kunstmuseen Krefeld. Curated by Verena Gamper. Assistant Curator: Anna Ewa Dyrko \#WalterPichler #FriedrichKiesler #SoniaLeimer [Biographies of the Artists](https://www.belvedere.at/node/9320) ### [Belvedere 21](https://www.belvedere.at/en/visit/belvedere-21) **Opening hours:** Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am - 6 pm; Late Night: Thursday, 11 am - 9 pm **Address:** Belvedere 21, 1030 Vienna ([Getting there]()) [Tickets](https://www.belvedere.at/en/tickets?location%5B0%5D=4) ##### In cooperation with - [derstandard.at](http://derstandard.at/) - [Logo Ö1](https://oe1.orf.at/club) ## Impressions - ![Rauminstallation von Friedrich Kiesler — Frederick Kiesler, City in Space in Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes, Paris, 1925 — Photographer unknown Austrian Frederick and Lillian Kiesler Private Foundation, Vienna — © 2024 Austrian Frederick and Lillian Kiesler Private Foundation, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-10/Ex%2050721_Friedrich%20Kiesler_Raumstadt_1925_unbekannter%20Fotograf_Kiesler-Privatstiftung_ret.jpg.webp?itok=4DQaZumY) - ![Walter Pichler, Eingang zu einer unterirdischen Stadt, 1963 — Walter Pichler, Entrance to an Underground City, 1963 — The Museum of Modern Art, New York, photo: The Museum of Modern Art, New York/Scala, Florence — © 2024 Estate of Walter Pichler, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-10/Ex%2050356_Walter%20Pichler_Entrance%20to%20an%20Underground%20City%2C%20project%20%28Perspective%29_1963_MoMA_scala_0140588.jpg.webp?itok=J9FKBt44) - ![Walter Pichler, Unterirdisches Gebäude mit ausfahrbarem Kern, 1963 — Walter Pichler, Underground Building with Extendable Core, 1963 — Tiroler Landesmuseen, Modern Collection, photo: TLM, Plattner — © 2024 Estate of Walter Pichler, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-11/Ex-50602_Walter-Pichler_Unterirdisches-Geb%C3%A4ude-mit-ausfahrbarem-Kern_1963_Tiroler-Landesmuseum-Ferdinandeum%2C-Moderne-Sammlung_Foto-TLM%2C-Plattner.jpg.webp?itok=j6XuJV8p) - ![Friedrich Kiesler, Studie zu einem Endless House (Paris Endless), 1947 — Frederick Kiesler, Study for an Endless House (Paris Endless), 1947 — Austrian Frederick and Lillian Kiesler Private Foundation, Vienna — © 2024 Austrian Frederick and Lillian Kiesler Private Foundation, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-05/Friedrich-Kiesler_Studie-zu-einem-Endless-House-%28Paris-Endless%29_1947_%C3%96FLKS.jpg.webp?itok=nqcLE7Mp) - ![Keramikskulptur von Friedrich Kiesler, Modell für das Endless House, 1950 — Frederick Kiesler, Model for an Endless House, 1950 — The Museum of Modern Art, New York, photo: The Museum of Modern Art, New York / Scala, Florence — © 2024 Austrian Frederick and Lillian Kiesler Private Foundation, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-10/Ex%2050348_Friedrich%20Kiesler_Modell%20f%C3%BCr%20Endless%20House_1950_MoMA_scala_0149969.jpg.webp?itok=EX1DjLmX) - ![Walter Pichler, Kleiner Raum (Prototyp 4), 1967 — Walter Pichler, Small Room (Prototype 4), 1967 — Generali Foundation Collection – Permanent Loan to the Museum der Moderne Salzburg, © Generali Foundation, photo: Werner Kaligofsky, 1998 / Bildrecht, Vienna 2024 — © 2024 Estate of Walter Pichler, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-05/Walter-Pichler_Kleiner-Raum-%28Prototyp-4%29_1967_Sammlung-Generali-Foundation.jpg.webp?itok=SCvT6A6P) - ![Walter Pichler, Alte Figur, 1960-1963 (Bett 1971) — Walter Pichler, Old Figure, 1960–63, supplemented 1971 — Belvedere, Vienna, acquired with the support of the Friends of the Belvedere, photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna — © 2024 Estate of Walter Pichler, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-05/Lg11749_Watler%20Pichler_Alte%20Figur_1960-1963_Belvedere_Foto%20Johannes%20Stoll.jpg.webp?itok=dh9_mMx1) - ![Friedrich Kiesler, Landscape: The Saviour has Risen, 1964 — Friedrich Kiesler, Landscape – The Saviour Has Risen, 1964 — Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, photo: Whitney Museum of American Art / Licensed by Scala — © 2024 Austrian Frederick and Lillian Kiesler Private Foundation, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-10/Ex%2050346_Friedrich%20Kiesler_Landscape%20The%20Saviour%20has%20Risen_1964_Whitney_Licensed%20by%20Scala.jpg.webp?itok=XMpXBzWE) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "VISIONÄRE RÄUME. WALTER PICHLER TRIFFT FRIEDRICH KIESLER in einem Display von Sonia Leimer" — Installation view "VISIONARY SPACES. WALTER PICHLER MEETS FREDERICK KIESLER in a Display by Sonia Leimer" — Photo: Jorit Aust / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-06/Ausstellungsansicht_Vision%C3%A4re%20R%C3%A4ume_Foto_Jorit%20Aust_240625_1701.jpg.webp?itok=Zn64Nk3j) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "VISIONÄRE RÄUME. WALTER PICHLER TRIFFT FRIEDRICH KIESLER in einem Display von Sonia Leimer" — Installation view "VISIONARY SPACES. WALTER PICHLER MEETS FREDERICK KIESLER in a Display by Sonia Leimer" — Photo: Jorit Aust / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-06/Ausstellungsansicht_Vision%C3%A4re%20R%C3%A4ume_Foto_Jorit%20Aust_240625_1682.jpg.webp?itok=zyd-iRhg) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "VISIONÄRE RÄUME. WALTER PICHLER TRIFFT FRIEDRICH KIESLER in einem Display von Sonia Leimer" — Installation view "VISIONARY SPACES. WALTER PICHLER MEETS FREDERICK KIESLER in a Display by Sonia Leimer" — Photo: Jorit Aust / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-06/Ausstellungsansicht_Vision%C3%A4re%20R%C3%A4ume_Foto_Jorit%20Aust_240625_1671.jpg.webp?itok=WbdgDErh) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "VISIONÄRE RÄUME. WALTER PICHLER TRIFFT FRIEDRICH KIESLER in einem Display von Sonia Leimer" — Installation view "VISIONARY SPACES. WALTER PICHLER MEETS FREDERICK KIESLER in a Display by Sonia Leimer" — Photo: Jorit Aust / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-06/Ausstellungsansicht_Vision%C3%A4re%20R%C3%A4ume_Foto_Jorit%20Aust_240625_1667.jpg.webp?itok=9AWksYA6) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "VISIONÄRE RÄUME. WALTER PICHLER TRIFFT FRIEDRICH KIESLER in einem Display von Sonia Leimer" — Installation view "VISIONARY SPACES. WALTER PICHLER MEETS FREDERICK KIESLER in a Display by Sonia Leimer" — Photo: Jorit Aust / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-06/Ausstellungsansicht_Vision%C3%A4re%20R%C3%A4ume_Foto_Jorit%20Aust_240625_1654.jpg.webp?itok=-fVkcTjD) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "VISIONÄRE RÄUME. WALTER PICHLER TRIFFT FRIEDRICH KIESLER in einem Display von Sonia Leimer" — Installation view "VISIONARY SPACES. WALTER PICHLER MEETS FREDERICK KIESLER in a Display by Sonia Leimer" — Photo: Jorit Aust / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-06/Ausstellungsansicht_Vision%C3%A4re%20R%C3%A4ume_Foto_Jorit%20Aust_240625_1649.jpg.webp?itok=C-kZhhEv) ## Videos **Visionary Spaces (Part 1)** **Visionary Spaces (Part 2)** **Visionary Spaces (Part 3)** **Visionary Spaces (Part 4)** **Visionary Spaces (Part 5)** **Visionary Spaces (Part 6)** **Visionary Spaces (Part 7)** **Visionary Spaces (Part 8)** **Visionary Spaces (Part 9)** **Visionary Spaces (Teil 10)** **Visionary Spaces (Teil 11)**