Defining Off Spaces with Independent Space Index
After discussing how the presentation and creation of art continuously depict particular beliefs and influence the audience’s perception, we will now explore the various modes of exhibiting and interacting among artists and creatives within Vienna’s art scene. Last week’s Sicc Collective showed how their zine was an alternative way of bringing isolated artists together, by exhibiting their artworks through the medium of a zine. Today marks the beginning of the Independent Space Index Art Festival (May 31 – June 2, 2024), an art festival that spotlights experimental offspaces in Vienna.
Offspaces are independent, non-profit exhibition spaces run by artists and curators. Their independent character allows them to be more experimental with their works and exhibitions, as they don’t have to follow the same guidelines as museums or commercial galleries do. These spaces often operate on secluded grounds – you have to be somewhat familiar with art circles to know about these spaces – and solely open on specific time frames. This weekend, the Independent Space Index Art Festival sheds light on these offspaces, by making them more accessible and let them open their doors to the public.
To learn more about the concept behind offspaces and the Independent Space Index, I approached Bruno Mokross, one of the initiators of the network. Mokross is a German artist and curator who runs an independent offspace, Pech, based in Vienna.
What is the Independent Space Index?
Independent Space Index is a network of project spaces – also known as artist-run spaces, offspaces, non-commercial and non-profit exhibiting spaces – in Vienna. We started in 2017, a time in which there was a new wave of space openings in Vienna’s art scene. There was a big focus on the commercial galleries and art institutions. As the project spaces of the city, we wanted to start something to increase our visibility. Therefore, we built a network of project spaces and paired this with an annual art festival. The Independent Space Index currently counts 90 members. We have monthly meetings for people to gather and to get to know each other. Every year since 2018, we organise a festival with participating project spaces. On average, we had about 25-50 spaces contributing – this year, 51 offspaces will be participating!
What do you mean by project spaces? Who will be exhibiting this weekend?
A project space is any exhibiting space that is not commercial. It has to be public, to be freely accessible to an audience, and work programmatically. That is to involve different artists through regular programming and to not only showcase your own work. For the Independent Space Index, it is important that these spaces also have some kind of permanence – short-term projects cannot be part of it, as we want to build a network. Anybody can request to become a member on our website.
You mention network a lot. What values do you associate with the Independent Space Index?
Essentially, Independent Space Index is self-organised in the sense that there is not one organising person that is above others, but it’s open to anybody who would like to tribute. As soon as you’re a part of this structure, you’re allowed to organise something or to come to our meetings, but it is not mandatory. The main initiators try to understand it as a project to organise something for these offspaces, to increase visibility, rather than working for our own interests.
We’re trying to put an emphasis on a specific mode of working – something that is open and that does not primarily participate in the art market –, a mode that tries to understand the artworld as a more complex thing at largest, rather than in market logics. I think that a big aspect of Independent Space Index is the social aspect. There’s always an immediate encounter in meetings and exhibitions. Instead of being more individual in the art scene, we have a larger network at play and have come to getting a collective understanding of the structures around artmaking.
Waf Galerie, participating at Independent Space Index Art Festival, 2024. Image courtesy of Independent Space Index.
What new perspective does the Independent Space Index bring to the Viennese art scene?
Ever since we’ve started in 2017, this has been the largest collaborative projects between offspaces in Vienna. I believe that we bring a new concept of togetherness; the project spaces that are participating are part of something larger. Our regular meetings have become a very important resource. We are very transparent and open with each other, as we can always approach each other about logistic, practical questions, which is something that is often rejected. Also, I think that we have brought an international visibility to people who have moved to Vienna. They have a new resource in finding their way into artist-run things, which are usually structures of a very private and secluded ground.
How are you feeling about the Independent Space Index Art Festival this weekend?
Good, I’m very happy about it from an organisational standpoint. As for the content, I’m glad that there’s a development. In the beginning, we did a lot of introductory concepts discussing what an offspace is, but this also got repetitive after a while. For the 2024 edition, we have more spaces participating and about 20 solo-exhibitions. Visitors can filter everything and treat it as an art fair. There are some great artist duos as well as shows that will present their archives. Many art spaces use this moment to present their best works, which makes me very happy to see. I just hope it doesn’t rain!
To rain or not to rain, the participating spaces of the Independent Space Index Festival (May 31 – June 2, 2024) are open from 14:00-18:00. On their website, you can find a digital map (free of charge) with all participating project spaces and their programmes. What to expect? Special events including artist talks and performances, as well as a unique range of exhibitions. Stay up to date on their Instagram.