sudhaus - art with salt and water

It was once called “white gold”: salt is a crucial element for the entire Salzkammergut region; even today it remains an important trade good, which leads some to prosperity and a few to richness.

Water and wood are both critical factors; without them, the extraction of salt would not be possible. – Salt and water are also both of critical importance for our bodies. Our organism is to 65 % made up of water and requires a daily ration of at least five grams of salt. – After all: salt and water are actually adversaries, which mutually devour each other and dissolve each other and are cursed to exist symbiotically until they are perhaps separated once again in a brew house.

“sudhaus – art with salt and water” is the central art exhibition of the European Capital of Culture. With the international and interregional participation of renowned artists, a spectrum of topics that is as broad as possible will be presented, which is introduced by documents from the history of the region. With a wide variety of facets and points of entry, the topics of salt and water will be presented in the form of objects, sculptures, installations, films, photography and sound works.

A part of the exhibit will make reference to the conference Open Water Dialogues, which concerns itself with urgent problems such as disappearing glaciers and the increasing scarcity of water around the world.