Projektivists

The Projektivists were a group of avant-garde artists and writers active in Vienna, Austria from the early 1950s until the 1970s. They emerged as a response to the traditional avant-garde movements of the time, seeking to challenge the dominant ideologies and create a new, experimental art that blended the visual and the literary.

The Projektivists, a name that roughly translates to "projective" in English, took their name from the idea of projecting and extending artistic practice into new and uncharted territories. They sought to combine elements of poetry, fiction, and visual art to create a poly-vocal and multimedia form that blurred the lines between high and low culture.

Key figures of the Projektivists included artists and writers such as Oswald Wiener, Christian Petzold, and Robert Hansen, as well as poet and futurist writer Bernhard Simmel. Together, they engaged in a diverse range of creative practices, including experimental film, spoken word performances, and conceptual art.

Projektivists sought to challenge and subvert traditional notions of art, bringing an everyday and mundane perspective to bear on high art. They experimented with new technologies and practices, collaborating with scientists and engineers to explore the possibilities of modern media and communication. Their work was characterized by its irreverent humor, inclusive language, and openness to scientific principles.

Through their experimental and inclusive collaborations, Projektivists contributed to the development of postmodern art and culture in Austria, offering new perspectives on modernism and influencing later generations of artists and writers.