Last week I attended the opening of the outdoor gallery of WU Campus, which is the business university of Vienna. The abbreviation WU stands for Wirtschaftsuniversität and not as an international student thought for wonderful university. Although I find that not an impossible idea as the new campus is a definite improvement from the old building in the 9th district. The new area is generously designed with a lot of space and community areas, and includes from now on also an outdoor gallery in front of the building D1.
outdoor gallery @WU Campus
For the opening of said gallery curator Ursula Tuczka, managing director of the Metropolitan Art Club, found in the paintings of Naomi Devil the perfect bridge between art, business, and education. The ‘Gender Pay Gap‘ series of Naomi Devil consists of ten paintings, which shine a light on female painters and other notable females through the ages.
Gender Pay Gap series @Naomi Devil
So many of them are unknown to us although they deserve a place in the spotlight. Like Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun or Angelika Kauffmann. The artist Naomi Devil painted these women in combination with a currency from today.
Angelika Kauffmann with an Ethereum @Naomi Devil
Ursula Tuszka led through the opening exhibition with a catalog of questions in regards to these outstanding women in perspective of today. Naomi Devil answered the questions about what drew her to certain artists, while Isabella Grabner from the university brought the topic to the present. Gender Pay Gap is a reality in Austria, as it is in the European Union, which makes this exhibition so important.
There was much to learn from these three women on podium but also about the women in paintings.
Isabella Grabner, Naomi Devil, Ursula Tuczka @WU Campus
I have never heard about the Polgár sisters, especially Judit Polgár. This Hungarian chess grandmaster beat eleven grandmasters including Magnus Carlsen and Anatoly Karpov. Please read up on her, she clearly deserves a lot more accolade. Her painting resonated a lot with my friends and me, probably because it was the only one in black and white and geometric structures.
Polgár vs the well known chess grandmasters @Naomi Devil
The outdoor gallery is open to the public and can be seen day and night as solar lights illuminate the frames whenever needed. If you want to purchase a painting, please get in touch with Ursula Tuczka, some are still available. In any case try to take in the exhibition. Yours, Pollybert
