Ostarrîchi - Austria. People, myths, milestones

This show on the occasion of the millennium was more than just a national exhibition: this Austrian national exhibition explored the meaning of the name “Austria” in the past and present. Under the motto “Ostarrîchi-Austria 996-1996” and based on the three central themes of people, myths and milestones, visitors were able to embark on a “journey into the past”.

“Exhibitions are a special kind of medium,” said exhibition director Ernst Bruckmüller, ”they are neither a traveling museum nor an open book on the wall.” Exhibitions have a special opportunity, said the historian, who did not want to create a “jubilee exhibition” or a “name day celebration”: “They certainly want to educate, entertain and emotionally grasp through a unique combination of beautiful, touching, valuable or even ‘just’ meaningful exhibits.”

The history of the name “Austria” was traced in Neuhofen an der Ybbs, the place to which the Ostarrîchi document (“Austria's baptismal certificate”) referred in 996. The original Ostarrîchi document was on display in the newly built Kulturhof, with a thematic focus on the creation and development of the federal states. In the parish church of Neuhofen, the topic of “Catholic faith and identity” was explored.

Completely different accents were set in St. Pölten. The provincial capital was dominated by symbols, clichés, self-images and images of others - in other words, “myths” associated with the birth and development of Austria. In a “street of symbols”, visitors were confronted with the imperial crown and the Mozartkugel, with “Herr Karl” and the choirboys, with “Sisi” and the Wiener Schnitzel. The rulers and “heroes” who defined and shaped Austria's past and present were also on display - from Emperor Franz Joseph to Annemarie Moser-Pröll, from Bertha von Suttner to Herbert von Karajan.

This part of the national exhibition was shown in the new special exhibition hall. It was designed by Hans Hollein and was the first building to be completed in the new government district of the state capital.

The exhibition approaches the concept of “Austria”, which has undergone many changes over the course of an eventful history, said Governor Erwin Pröll: “Firstly, about the ‘people’, but not only about those who have made ‘history’ as rulers or statesmen, but also about those who have experienced or suffered this history and have grown together to become ‘Austrians’. Furthermore, about the 'myths', about the positive and negative clichés and symbols that have a significant influence on our self-image as well as the image the world has of us. And finally about the 'milestones', i.e. the stages on the long road from 'Ostarrîchi' to the Austria of today.”

Federal President Thomas Klestil was delighted that the province of Lower Austria was seeking to trace the Austrian consciousness with this national exhibition on the millennium: “A ‘nation’ is not confirmed solely by the flying of flags or the playing of anthems - ‘nation’ is rather a feeling of consensus that arises from the awareness of the historical community of destiny.”

Neuhofen an der Ybbs, Ostarrîchi-Kulturhof