The elevated station of the U2 subway line Donauspital with its central platform is located parallel to Langobardenstraße in Vienna’s 22nd district. The entrance toward the city is to be found near that to that to the Donau Hospital, while the other faces Tamariskengasse. The station is an open structure with a large auditorium that offers itself for artistic interventions, provided that these allow for the guidelines concerning the orientation system (tactile paving for visually impaired users).
The competition was aimed at obtaining an artistic solution that would upgrade the location. The permanent artwork was to increase the station’s allure for its users, ensure a modern atmosphere, and give the place a unique identity.
Christian Jankowski’s project The Grand Gesture emerged as winner of the competition.
Location
U2 subway station Donauspital, 1220 Vienna
Gallery
Further Information
Competition
Artistic design of the U2 subway station Donauspital
Awarding authorities
Kunst im öffentlichen Raum GmbH in cooperation with WIENER LINIEN
Curator of the competition
Christoph Doswald, curator and chairman of the working group on Art in the Public Realm (AG KiöR), City of Zurich
Invited artists
Saâdane Afif (FR), Christian Jankowski (DE), Joep van Lieshout (NL)
Jury
Tobia Bezzola, since 2013 Director of the Museum Folkwang in Essen (2007–2010 member of the KÖR jury)
Birgit Brodner, 2006–2013 advisor at the municipal office of the Executive Group for Cultural Affairs and Science
Johann Hödl, Commercial Services and Controlling, WIENER LINIEN
Lilli Hollein, curator and journalist (2010–2013 member of the KÖR jury)
Brigitte Kowanz, artist
Norbert Scheed, district mayor of the 22nd district of Vienna
Günter Steinbauer, CEO, WIENER LINIEN
Martin Zechner, architectural office Katzberger
Expert consultants
Harald Bertha, Structural and Civil Engineering, WIENER LINIEN
Bettina Leidl, 2007–201 Managing Director, Kunst im öffentlichen Raum GmbH
Erwin Scheidl, B 67 – New Construction Department, Subway Planning, WIENER LINIEN
Preliminary examination
Monika Trimmel, Werkraum Ingenieure ZT-GmbH
Competition winner
Christian Jankowski
* 1968 Göttingen (DE), lives and works in Berlin (DE).
