To the Underworld and back

The Underworld, as the realm of the dead, has always sparked the imagination of the living, and still continues to shape creative and artistic work.
In the ancient world, the Beyond was represented as a realm of shades, peopled by heroes, gods and daemons. The Western Christian world created Hell, a place where the individual punishment is precisely suited to the sin committed. Modern myths, on the other hand, which use both notions, like to alternate between the worlds – whether regarding space, time or physical body.
This exhibition, which approaches the theme from different angles, shows an Egytpian false door, Greek containers for anointing-oil and Roman grave-goods, as well as many mediaeval and modern works by artists including William Blake, Marc Chagall, James Ensor, Anselm Feuerbach, Jan Fabre, Oskar Kokoschka, Marc Quinn, Daniel Richter and Roelant Savery.
The essays in the catalogue deal with the treatment of the theme in art, the various religious views, and narratives in film and literature.

Presentation
Guided tours, special activities, art discussions, symposium, concert

Sources:
Works from the collection of the Salzburg Residenzgalerie
National and international museums
Private collections
Public and private archives

Concept, organisation and exhibition design:
Dr. Thomas Habersatter
Dr. Gabriele Groschner
Mag. Astrid Ducke