On the occasion of the UNESCO 50 years World Heritage celebration, the Austrian Cultural Forum Beijing in cooperation with the Hangzhou Winland Center presents a dialogue between two Austrian artists whose birth years are almost exactly 100 years apart. A period in which the world – and with it art – has changed radically. Are there nevertheless connecting lines between artistic thoughts and formulations from then and now? One issue that underlies the work of both artists like a driving force is nature. Both have not only studied its external appearance, but have also recognised principles in it that are significant for all life and development. At the same time, both artists include both contemporary and historical cultural assets and world views in their work – with an attentive eye far beyond Austria and Central Europe, i.e. also as far as East Asia.

Karin Pliem. Biocultural Community
The title of Karin Pliem’s exhibition in the first room combines the still young scientific term “biocultural diversity” with the traditional word “community”. Biocultural diversity encompasses the diversity of life in all its manifestations – biological, cultural and linguistic. In this sense, for over 20 years Karin Pliem in her paintings, installations and video animations has been linking elements of nature and civilisation into a world society of living beings and cultural goods.

Gustav Klimt. Forerunner of Modernism
In the second part of the exhibition, 26 high-quality fine art prints document major works by the internationally best-known representative of Viennese Art Nouveau. The presentation provides a sophisticated insight into Klimt’s different creative phases, his favourite issues and his artistic intentions.

The presentation “Gustav Klimt. Forerunner of Modern was developed as a touring exhibition by Manfred Thumberger/SelenoArt (Graphic & Design/Production) in collaboration with curator Sandra Tretter/Klimt Foundation Vienna „Art from Austria – The Present and the Dawn of Modernism“ also features two contemporary examples of technical-media art production: Karin Pliem shows the video animation “L’Infinito della Natura” in her part of the exhibition, and Gustav Klimt’s presentation ends with the animated image collage “FLOEGE FLOEGE” by the Austrian media artist Bernadette Huber.