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Heidi Horten Collection
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EXHIBITION

Experiment Expressionism

Schiele meets Nosferatu

 

Poster Design for “Nosferatu” by Albin Grau, 1922 This image shows a design for a movie poster for the silent film Nosferatu. In the center, there is a large black figure. It has a hunched back, long arms, and is walking with big steps from left to right. The figure is painted almost completely in black. The background has blue and green colors. The sky is dark blue, the ground is turquoise. Across the image, the word NOSFERATU is written in white letters. At the bottom right, there is a crescent moon and rats jumping. Along the lower edge, handwritten text says in german: “Poster for Leipziger-Platz. Film Nosferatu. Design by Grau”
In this painting, Egon Schiele painted himself. He is wearing a special vest that looks like it has peacock feathers on it. His face looks serious and proud. His hair is wild and sticks up. His long fingers are painted in a strong way. The background is dark, but around his head is a light shape, like a halo. Schiele looks straight at us – almost like he is judging us. The colors on his face and hands are strange – red, green, blue.

Egon Schiele, Selbstporträt mit Pfauenweste, 1911 © Ernst Ploil, Wien

Albin Grau, Nosferatu, 1922 © Kantonsbibliothek Appenzell Ausserrhoden, CMO, Trogen (CH)

Anonym, Alexander Granach als Häusermakler Knock in "Nosferatu", 1922 © Kantonsbibliothek Appenzell Ausserrhoden, CMO, Trogen (CH)


 

Experiment Expressionism - Schiele meets Nosferatu is a comprehensive, cross-genre exhibition on Expressionism. Important works from the Heidi Horten Collection act as a starting point of the exhibition that is curated by Agnes Husslein-Arco, Rolf H. Johannsen and Roland Fischer-Briand. In particular works by the Expressionist painters Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Emil Nolde and Max Pechstein, among others. These artists are shown in context with works by Austrian Expressionist painters like Herbert Boeckl, Helene Funke, Oskar Kokoschka, Max Oppenheimer, Egon Schiele, Helene von Taussig and others.

The photo shows the exhibition “Experiment Expressionism. Schiele meets Nosferatu” at the Heidi Horten Collection. At the front, there is a big wall in blue and white. On the wall, there is large writing: “Experiment Expressionism – Schiele meets Nosferatu”. In the center, there is a small painting by Egon Schiele – a self-portrait. Next to it, there is a small picture from the old film “Nosferatu”. Below, there is a long text about the exhibition. Behind the wall, you can see more colorful paintings on white walls. The room is bright and open. The ceiling is white, and the floor is brown. The exhibition looks modern, clear, and well organized.
The photo shows a doorway in the exhibition “Experiment Expressionism. Schiele meets Nosferatu”. In the room behind the doorway, there is a large glowing image of the machine figure from the film “Metropolis” (1927). On the left and right sides of the doorway, there are two portraits in golden frames: On the left is a sharp-edged, serious portrait of a woman. On the right is a smaller, more loosely painted portrait with a blue-green background and a yellow hat – this is the self-portrait of Herbert Boeckl. In the background on the right, a pink neon heart is glowing on the wall.
The photo shows a bright room in the exhibition “Experiment Expressionism.” There are many paintings hanging on the white walls. The pictures show women and men – some look calm, others are moving or appear strong. On the far right, you see a long, narrow painting of a woman. The painting is by Egon Schiele. On the left wall, there are three portraits hanging next to each other. In the middle of the room, you see more paintings, for example the picture “Terzetta”, with the woman and the long hands. The floor is brown, and the ceiling is bright.
The photo shows a room from the “Experiment Expressionism” exhibition. The room is bright, with white-painted walls and a brown wooden floor. Six paintings hang on the walls. The paintings show people in motion, naked bodies, strong colors and special poses - typical of Expressionism.
On the far left, you see a photo projected onto a wall. It shows the actor Conrad Veidt in black and white. He is raising his hands and looks serious. To the right of it, there are four paintings: – The first one on the left shows several people. In the center, a woman sits in an orange dress. – The second one shows three women. – The third one shows people from the story Decameron. – The fourth is the painting “Terzetta”, with the woman raising her long, dark hands. The colors in all the paintings are strong and bright.
The photo shows a part of the exhibition “Experiment Expressionism.” On the left, there is a painting by Lilly Steiner. It shows Lilian Gärtner with big blue eyes and a grey dress. She is sitting and holding her hands in a special, expressive way. This painting was already described earlier. On the right, you see a film scene from “Nosferatu.” The film is black and white and is projected onto the wall. You can see the vampire Nosferatu standing on a ship. He is on the deck and looks scary.

11.04.-31.08.2025

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In addition to visual arts, painting and sculpture, the exhibition also focuses on silent film - the new, if not leading medium of the time - which is illustrated in the exhibition with posters, film stills and excerpts from classics such as Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari or Nosferatu – eine Symphonie des Grauens, but also films less familiar to the general public such as Orlac's Hände or Der müde Tod.

During the exhibition, the museum offers an evening program presenting silent films that will be shown for the first time in long version, accompanied by live music.

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EXHIBITION

Vienna, Vienna, only you

Wigand – Alt – Oláh

In the photo, we see St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. The picture was taken from a balcony. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a very old church. In the middle, you can see a very tall, pointed tower. The roof has colorful tiles. It looks beautiful and special. On the left is the church, on the right are other buildings. There are many people on the square in front of it. The sky is blue. There are a few white clouds. The photo was taken with an old camera that uses film. The photographer’s name is Stefan Oláh. The colors in the picture are warm and pleasant.
In the picture, we see St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. It is not a photo, but a painting made with watercolors. This kind of painting is called a watercolor. The artist’s name is Rudolf von Alt. In the middle, you can see the tall tower of the cathedral. It is very high and pointed. On the left is the church, on the right are buildings. At the bottom, on the square, there are many people. It is probably showing the Corpus Christi procession. The sky is bright, with a bit of blue and grey.
This box was made around the year 1825. The watercolors on the box were painted by Balthasar Wigand. The box is made of mother-of-pearl and silver. It looks elegant and valuable. On the sides, it has small handles for carrying. On the lid, there is a small picture in the center: It shows the Spinnerin am Kreuz – a well-known landmark in Vienna. In the background, you can see the city of Vienna and people on horseback. Around the picture, there is a fine metal decoration with leaves and small figures. Painted scenes of Vienna also appear on the sides of the box – specifically the outer city gate (Burgtor) and Heldenplatz.

Stefan Oláh

Rudolf von Alt

Balthasar Wigand

The exhibition is dedicated to the work of three artists—Balthasar Wigand, Rudolf von Alt, and Stefan Oláh—and their engagement with the city of Vienna. Spanning two centuries, this exploration begins with Wigand, whose most significant works were created around 1820, it continues with Rudolf von Alt, the quintessential "chronicler" of 19th-century Vienna, and concludes with Stefan Oláh, who has revisited the city from diverse perspectives for over two decades.

Vienna, Vienna, only you adopts the vantage points of his predecessors, revisiting their locations and capturing, through his photographs, how the city and its surroundings present themselves today. The selection of subjects is far from random. It is guided by Wigand’s exquisite Vienna miniatures, set into opulent cassettes, and by five outstanding watercolors by Rudolf von Alt. 

 

 

30 April to October 2025

 

The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to compare the "then" and "now" while discovering the works of these three artists from a singular perspective.

This journey takes visitors from the Spinnerin am Kreuz through the heart of Vienna, featuring landmarks such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Karlskirche, to Schönbrunn Palace and, finally, into the Gastein Valley. Oláh’s gaze is unflinching, devoid of judgment, yet profoundly analytical. He reveals places that have remained virtually unchanged over two centuries and others that have been irrevocably altered, sometimes to the point of being "built over."

INTERVENTION

CO₂ntext 

An Artistic-Scientific Climate Project in the Hanuschhof

The photo shows the Hanuschhof from above. The floor is painted in bright colors - you can see large areas in blue, yellow, green, pink, orange and purple. Many small, colorful dots can be seen in each colored area. These dots show how much CO₂ was emitted in a given year - one dot represents one billion tons. The colors are vibrant and glow in the sunlight. The painting makes the courtyard friendly, eye-catching and lively - and it has a purpose: The special paint helps to reduce the heat because it reflects the sunlight better than normal concrete. This work of art is called “CO₂ntext”. It combines environmental issues, art and urban space - and invites people to reflect and linger.
The photo shows the Hanuschhof in Vienna - where the Heidi Horten Collection museum is located. The floor between the buildings is brightly painted. You can see many colored areas in pink, blue, yellow, green, orange and purple. These colors are not only beautiful, they also have an important meaning. The painting shows how CO₂ emissions increase each year. Each colorful field represents a year - the further you go, the more CO₂. The color on the ground is also special: It reflects sunlight better than dark asphalt. This makes the square less hot - which helps the climate in the city. On the top right of the picture you can see a small green park with works of art and the bright museum building on the right.
The photo shows the Hanuschhof in Vienna. The floor is painted in bright colors - you can see large areas in blue, yellow, green, pink and purple. Many small, colorful dots can be seen in each colored area. These dots show how much CO₂ was emitted in a given year - one dot represents one billion tons. At the front in the middle is a white paint bucket with a long handle, next to it is a small paint tray - you can see that the artwork is currently being worked on or has recently been completed. The colors are vibrant and glow in the sunlight. The painting makes the courtyard friendly, eye-catching and lively - and it has a purpose: The special paint helps to reduce the heat because it reflects the sunlight better than normal concrete. This work of art is called “CO₂ntext”. It combines environmental issues, art and urban space - and invites people to reflect and linger.

Design: Holla Hoop

With CO₂ntext, the Heidi Horten Collection, in collaboration with Bundestheater-Holding and ART for ART, is sending a powerful message for climate awareness and sustainable urban design. At the heart of the project lies a vibrant ground mural in the Hanuschhof, designed by the Graz-based artist collective Holla Hoop. The special UV-reflective paint used lowers the ambient temperature by at least 5 °C and thus improves the microclimate - a benefit for museum guests, employees and local residents.

The visual design consists of 40 colored areas, each symbolizing a year. Each dot represents one billion tons of CO₂ - an artistically translated archive of global emissions.

since June 10, 2025

 

The project is supported by Prof. DI Dr. Hans-Peter Hutter, an environmental health expert at the Medical University of Vienna. He has long been researching the effects of climate change on human health and is committed to making scientific findings accessible to the public. His studies explore the impact of heat and air pollution, the spread of invasive species, and even the psychological effects of extreme weather events – including post-traumatic stress. Lesser-known phenomena such as “ecological grief” – often observed where familiar landscapes are irreversibly altered by climate change – also form part of his research. 

Technical background: Light-colored surfaces reflect the sun's rays better than dark asphalt, which counteracts the formation of urban heat islands. CO₂ntext shows how small urban interventions can have a big impact and offers a model for sustainable urban design with international appeal.