Opening LichtStrauss

The transition from the 19th to the 20th century marked a decisive step towards equality in the debate on women's rights, as women were largely excluded from the (political) public sphere until the turn of the century. Their fight for access to education, fair working conditions and the freedom to speak with their own voice in politics reached a climax with the largest women's demonstration in Austrian history. In March 1911, around 20,000 people marched along the Ringstrasse, including women and men, demonstrating for women's suffrage, equal pay for all and the abolition of prison sentences for abortion. Taking to the streets became a successful strategy for gaining public visibility and making their own concerns and demands heard in public rather than just in private. In a constantly changing society, it is necessary to find new forms of expression in order to make demands for equality and justice heard in public. With the advent of augmented reality, a new space is now opening up to creatively address political and social issues.

As part of the opening of LichtStrauss at the Gartenbaukino, seven short films will be premiered. They present seven contemporary female performers and their virtual ‘personas’, which are set in the digital world, at the interface between yesterday and tomorrow, the visible and the invisible, darkness and light. These cinematic works form a visual metaphorical bridge between the historical struggles of women and the challenges they face today in their quest for equality.

17.00 Opening at the Gartenbaukino
19.00 Performative rally in the city park