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Franz Graf :
Unabhängiges Literaturhaus Lower Austria in Krems

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Krems-Stein, 2006
Steiner Landstraße 3, 3500 Krems an der Donau

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Franz Graf has redesigned the foyer in accordance with his basic premise that "speech is a form". Alongside architectural interventions and the furnishing with old furniture, there is a mural with individual letters. Like the modular billboard for announcements, it alludes to the way speech is constructed — as does the work's title: "10718ERA1819R 6AUS9RE1117"

The ULNÖ, opened in 2000, serves as a venue for readings as well as book presentations and presentations of literary journals. The organisation aims to provide a cultural meeting point and information centre for a broad diversity of literary issues and concerns. Widespread dissatisfaction with the entrance situation led to the acceptance of the recommendation by the advisory committee for Kunst im öffentlichen Raum NÖ to invite Franz Graf to remodel the foyer. A sliding door now provides an unrestricted view into the redesigned lounge, which can be used for smaller events. Alongside the visual advantage of opening the view for visitors, intelligent planning has also created additional surface for the team to use. "Speaking is a form". For Franz Graf language is also manifested in the furniture, which he selected for the Lounge carefully. It has all been obtained from second hand dealers and each is a collector's piece. In their solid form they also provide a launching point for stories and narratives that are not bound to any place in particular. The billboard for announcements on the wall alludes to the construction of language, being itself composed of letters and words with an infinite potential for variation. Inspired by the lights mounted outside cinemas in the 1930s, forthcoming events etc. can be announced by re-arranging the individual letters again and again.
(Katrina Petter)