The Haus-Rucker-Co group (1967 – 1992), whose artistic output lies at the interface between art and architecture, is considered one of the most important voices in the Austrian post-war avant-garde. Their seminal work transcended the boundaries of traditional genres and invoked a marriage of art and life. The issues addressed by Haus-Rucker-Co, such as mounting environmental degradation, illustrate the relevance of their work that persists to this day.
The exhibition is based on the Günter Zamp Kelp Archive purchased by the City of Linz and on significant works by Haus-Rucker-Co acquired by the Lentos Kunstmuseum in 2020. In six chapters, it provides a comprehensive insight into the work of the group’s members who included the architects Laurids Ortner and Günter Zamp Kelp, the painter Klaus Pinter, and, from 1971, Manfred Ortner. Breathing Zones, the exhibition’s title, refers to the crucial role of the element air in Haus-Rucker-Co’s œuvre and builds a bridge in terms of content to other important groups of works, such as those shown in the exhibition COVER. Surviving in a Polluted Environment (1971).
