A couple of nights ago I was at the opening night of an exhibition. Here in Austria this kind of event has a special name all of its own, it’s called a vernisage. It was such an extreme event that I knew I had to do an illustration.
It was a glimpse into the art world, at least the Vienna branch, and that’s a very vibrant and happening world. The art was fantastic, really very good, but looking at the people was much more interesting than looking at the art. Nobody was paying the art any attention, we were all looking at each other – and I was the worst. I didn’t have a sketchbook, and I was determined to remember as much as I could, so I was staring at people trying to drink in every detail, and also occasionally glancing at the art of course.
This effect was at its most extreme in the first room of the gallery, where a bar had been set up with free wine and nibbles. The room was absolutely crammed and all faces were directed inwards towards the free booze and the other luminaries of the Vienna art scene. We turned our back on the art. We blotted it out. We talked with each other about it. We read about it on stapled together A4 sheets. We fought over our rightful turn for a refill of wine or a handful of nibbles. But we didn’t look at the art.
And the noise, it was a deafening roar. Everyone was trying to share their insightful opinions with both, those right next to them, and the room in general, ready to bask in the attention their insightful comments would bring – if only anyone could hear anything above the roar.
I think I survived the crush pretty well, I scored free wine and nibbles, saw some art and was inspired to do an illustration.
