Sandra Hauser – I Would Prefer Not II, Vienna

Sandra Hauser with Don Orèo - I Would Prefer Not To - Episode II Vienna 

Ongoing performances in public space of the city of Vienna --- 27.06. – 17.07.2022
Headquarter IWPNT: Wiener Trabrenn-Verein e.V. at the Krieau; Nordportalstraße 247, 1020 Wien (AT)
Friday July 8 2022 from 8:30 pm

Supported by KÖR Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Wien, in coop. with Steiner Stiftung München, Neustart Kultur, BBK Bundesverband, the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and Stiftung Kunstfonds

In 2019 Sandra Hauser, riding since the age of three, decided to use her personal affinity with these animals in her artistic practice. Since then, Hauser has been immersed in the development of a longterm project “I Would Prefer Not To.” IWPNT’s genesis and unfolding is closely tied to the co-development of horse and human. The project’s origins lie in the harsh environment of an industrial area in the Rhone Delta, where Sandra Hauser met Don Orèo, a young Cruzado stallion. Over the course of the last two years, artist and horse encounter each other, train each other, experience both development and setbacks and thus create a process. Along the way, notes, an ongoing series of unique photographs and abstract fabric canvases exposed to the elements, have emerged.

The title “I Would Prefer Not To” derives from Melville’s 1853 short story “Bartleby”, which became the official theme of philosopher Slavoj Žižek’s critical theory. As part of IWPNT, Sandra Hauser and Don Orèo also undertake journeys, staying for short periods in various locations, beginning in Europe. During the day, Hauser continues her practice and ongoing work process with the horse, meeting people, making discoveries and intervening in places or participating in events related to her trajectory. The night can be a space for sudden, unexpected performances on these stages, where a casual passer-by witnesses the dreamlike, illuminated passage of an artist with a horse. IWPNT not only tells about the socio-cultural imprint on man of the animal or about the contrast between nature and civilization, but carries the connection between man and animal, the dialogue, the consciousness visibly and tangibly into the public space. At the same time it offers a moment that opposes itself to eremitic withdrawal. Hauser formulates questions about freedom in a simple way: What am I entitled to do? What is my counterpart entitled to do? Where is the public space? What is my space? Hauser’s poetic endeavour can be seen as a silent act of opening up the institution or also of withdrawal from the logic of exploitation of art.
Sandra Hauser and Don Oréo have outgrown their primal fears in Brussels during Episode I in May ’22, appearance of a dream that may manifest in Vienna to achieve a visibility. An ephemeral moment embedded in the city and its rhythm, surrounded by its people and their spaces, day and the night.

Episode is supported by KÖR Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Wien at the Wiener Trabrenn-Verein e.V. at the Krieau, in cooperation with Steiner Stiftung München, Neustart Kultur, BBK Bundesverband, the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and Stiftung Kunstfonds.
The journey emerged through the prelude in the Cultural Center Strombeek towards Vienna in June & July ’22 and will be followed by further Episodes in Italy and abroad. In addition to the unannounced performances of Sandra Hauser and Don Orèo in the public space there will be short and spontaneously announced appearances and space activations of Sandra Hauser happening along the Episodes in regional locations.
Thanks to: DiT, Caroline von Reden, Theurer Transporte, Sattlerei Guido Netzer, Sophie Waldburg and all other supporters, friends, helpers, horses, companions.

Studio/stable visits at Krieau: Appointment via don@iwouldprefernotto.org
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In collaboration with: KÖR Kunst im öffentlichen Raum GmbH
www.koer.or.at