Instructions for Happiness

At the 21er Haus in Vienna, the exhibition “Instructions for Happiness” explores elusive feeling and scrutinizes conceptions of happiness.

Barbara Kapusta, Multiplication of U, 2016. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Barbara Kapusta & Gianni Manhattan, Wien

Instructions for happiness – an absurd promise? “Instructions for Happiness” sets out to explore this subjective, elusive feeling and scrutinizes conceptions of happiness.

Using behavioural guidelines, the works of participating artists invite responses to simulated situations through the use of objects or by interacting with others – or simply provoke the processes of thought. Arrangements that vary in form and content mirror the diversity of perspectives that the artists – as much as society in general – hold towards being happy. Just as with interpersonal relationships, immediate encounters or everyday situations, happiness may also hide in appreciating the beauty of the little things. Visitors are invited to explore ideas of happiness and to thereby also find their own answers.

Img.1 Left: Rallou Panagiotou, Transit Made-up Medusa, 2016. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Rallou Panagiotou, Athens, Ibid. London / Los Angeles and Bernier/Eliades, Athen/Athens. Right: Simon Dybbroe Møller, The Plumber & The Cook, 2015. Photo Simon Dybbroe Møller

Img.2 Left: Christian Falsnaes, A good reason is one that looks like one, 2015. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Christian Falsnaes, Berlin. Right: Jannis Varelas, Untitled,2017 Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Jannis Varelas and The Breeder, Athens

Img.3 Left: Anna-Sophie Berger Build a house or knock it down, 2016 Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Anna-Sophie Berger, Vienna and New York. Right: Hans Schabus, Good Luck is a Birdie, 2016. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy Hans Schabus, Vienna

Img.4 Left: Keren Cytter, Ocean, 2014. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Pilar Corrias Gallery, London. Right: Christian Falsnaes, A good reason is one that looks like one, 2015. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Christian Falsnaes, Berlin

Img.5 Left: Heinrich Dunst,Things, not words (II), 2016. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Heinrich Dunst & Galerie nächst St. Stephan, Vienna. Right: Barbara Kapusta, Multiplication of U, 2016. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Barbara Kapusta & Gianni Manhattan, Wien

Img.6 Socratis Socratous, “Thank God I’m getting on a boat”, 2017. Photo Thomas Albdorf, © Belvedere, Vienna. Courtesy of Socratis Socratous and The Breeder, Athens

Img.7 Hans Schabus, Good Luck is a Birdie, 2016

Img.8 Socratis Socratous, “Thank God I’m getting on a boat”, 2017

With works by Anna-Sophie Berger, Keren Cytter, Heinrich Dunst, Simon Dybbroe Møller, Christian Falsnaes, Barbara Kapusta, Rallou Panagiotou, Angelo Plessas, Maruša Sagadin, Hans Schabus, Socratis Socratous, Jannis Varelas, Salvatore Viviano and Anna Witt.

until 5 November 2017
Instructions for Happiness
Curators: Severin Dünser and Olympia Tzortzi
21er Haus
Quartier Belvedere, Arsenalstraße 1, Vienna

Instructions for Happiness

At the 21er Haus in Vienna, the exhibition “Instructions for Happiness” explores elusive feeling and scrutinizes conceptions of happiness.

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